Perhaps I expressed myself a bit injudiciously for the esteemed gatekeepers of this fine thread to accept my original comment. So I begin again. It seems that a noteworthy promoter of workshops for those of certain intersectionality to overcome their privilege has said "white progressives cause the most daily damage to people of color."
I humbly submit concurrence with such a point of view is a recipe for failure, at the ballot box and elsewhere.
51
I have never heard so many bad ideas, that will easily be exploited by Trump. Democrats uncanny ability to self destruct should never be underestimated, Just like Hillary's team virtually ignored campaigning in the Mid West and made the strategic blunder of going after states like Arizona. and Texas, these policy decisions if included in their platform will explode in their faces.
But the liberal press has a major part in setting this possible train wreck into motion.
Take the Huffington Post for instance. They have been on a nonstop blitz blasting Biden and Pelosi and turning AOC into a superstar, giving her ideas major credence.
Then you had Kamala Harris' attack on Biden in the debate implying he was an out of touch man with possible racist tendencies. Yet not one reporter followed up with her statement that indicated she might be for forced busing. Now that would be a winning idea. Talk about dredging up bad memories. Have Democrats even poll tested these ideas or are they so enamored by their purity that it is not necessary.
145
I think it’s high time for Americans to have guaranteed Health Care and the opportunity to go to college if one has the aptitude .
I am sorry if this causes the obligatory pearl clutching for the Times and it’s readers. This may be the choice for our country-Democratic Socialism or a Fascist Dictatorship . I will take my chances with Bernie Sanders. Better than the Corporate owned politicians who don’t have an ideology or conscience. There is no Obama or Bill Clinton type of candidate this time. Maybe an 11th hour mystery candidate like Gavin Newsom could emerge-someone we don’t know much about-charismatic and unknowable.
59
Thanks Mr. Friedman. I’ve been saying this for a long time! You have to get elected first!
89
The Democratic Party gave us just the candidate you describe, her name was Hillary Clinton. What happened then? I do not know, but the rallying cry now should be: Anything but Trump!!
76
The Democratic candidates better listen carefully to Mr. Friedman. It's not the time for a leftist revolution - let's first get rid of this disastrous administration.
115
Tom Friedman is one of the NYT's most respected and renowned writers. And unfortunately I'm afraid he's on to something. He received more than 5,000 responses and replied to many of them. His statement to the effect that Voters respond more at the gut level than intellect rings true and in a way it is genius as Friedman says. The democrats haven't offered an alternative (i.e. a candidate who fires the emotions). In this argument truth is irrelevant. Wish Friedman were wrong alas it may not be is not to be. Hate Trump but unfortunately that's how evil generally works.
62
I wish the Democrats would learn how to “merchandise “ themselves as well as Trump does.
DON’T use the words progressive socialism...is doesn’t fly!
DON’T use the word “Obama care”
DO use the word progressive governing.
DO use the term “ACA” people like affordable care even when they are not so sure about President Obama!
There is so much more. Don’t be stupid. Think in terms of how successful products are sold. Gee whiz. It is so obvious! SELL THE PUBLIC on your platform, don’t harangue them with grand philosophies that take too much explanation for time limited folks.
93
Dear Mr. Friedman,
Did you send copies of your outstanding editorial to the 20 Democrats running for President?
If you did not, would you kindly do so?
Sincerely,
Katherine Sherpa
149
Conservative Democrats gave Trump his first victory anyway.
30
It is that GUT CONNECTION that Trump has with his supporters that is more frightening than any horror movie I've ever seen. These individuals can not be reasoned with, it IS a cult. You can't convince me otherwise after that disgusting rally in North Carolina...
72
I agree that D. Trump is a racist. Furthermore, D. Trump controls his essentially white working class base by carrying out racist actions that are thinly veiled communications to this base that he, D. Trump, and his ilk, will continue to pay the white working class base sub-standard working class incomes.
By doing this, Trump is also communicating to his base that if they do not support him, D. Trump and is ilk will bring in "the Other" to work for even lower wages; this leading to the white working class getting even lower incomes.
The reason D. Trump and his ilk do this is to insure that they, themselves, who they believe have the right to rake-in inordinate unnecessary amounts of money and wealth for themselves while most others of all skin shades suffer.
How sad it is that the white working class which supports D. Trump believes that this is the truth about way things are.
Do not let the greedy, selfish, mean people inherit the Earth.
23
Mr Friedman, thank you for your sparkling brilliance and level headed analysis. I have tried to convey those sane thoughts to the party. They send the MOST inane, childish surveys and I keep writing why I wll not respond. Someone is not listening.
I tried to email your stunning writing to my representative, but could not because it did not fit any catagoty of the subjects she wanted to hear about. Although I don't put much hope in "faith and prayers", if the pen is still mghtier than the sword we might yet be saved.
28
The Walter Cronkite Republican exclaims Hear, Hear!
14
The revolution needs to happen sooner and not later. stop burying your head in the sand America.
18
Yes.
8
Perhaps the most important column Friedman has ever written
58
One possibility that should not be ignored, though it should not be counted on, is that Trump himself will destroy his re-election chances with a colossal foreign policy mistake: North Korea? Iran? Afghanistan? Any of the other myriad places American soldiers are stationed? You pick.
And so the Trump era may end, not with a tweet but with a bang.
12
The point of decriminalizing entry isn't to allow anyone in but to keep children from being separated from parents under the Session and Trump policy that says if you enter, you're a criminal, therefore you lose your child. The criminal component of illegal entry is relatively new.
25
Amoral, awful and cruel, but Trump now (perceptually) owns "America first" while having pushed Dems to be seen as those supporting illegal immigration and measures unpopular to many (e.g., reparations, elimination of private health insurance, etc.). The noise created by the Squad of four is not helping.
I hope the Dems choose a centrist that understands, reads and connects with America well for the 2020 election, and that this candidate is not disrupted and attacked by the extremists in the left. Else, continue to say hi to President Trump in 2021.
28
Yes, I agree with all in this piece. Excellent op ed.
29
"Culpability Exhaustion" is the conversation the nation needs to have, not Trump hatred vs AOC Squad hatred. Trump and AOC are both symptoms of the problem not the problem. Men, white men in particular, will have a hard time voting for a candidate or a political party that tells us we are always bad just for being ordinary honest men, of any color. That is the definition of CULPABILITY EXHAUSTION. I am exhausted of always being wrong just for who I am, a middle American, lower-middle class guy who likes his old pickup. But if the Squad hate me on principle, then I will vote against my own economic interests just to be appreciated as a good guy, and then Trump wins, even if his winning hurts me. Yes the Democratic Party is giving the election to Trump on a silver platter. A shame really.
45
As a lifelong Democrat who voted for Trump i feel that Democrats should listen to Friedman not AOC. Democrats need to stop being so shrill about race and climate change. Regular working people who listen to CNN and MSNBC are turning away from the Democratic party. MSNBC sounds almost insane. Trump didn't collude with the Russians. He is not racist and certainly not a homophobe. He is not wrong about NATO's free-loading, China's trade policies, and the flaws in NAFTA. However, I do not want him as our president.
The first Democratic candidate that has a 'Sister Soljah Moment' and makes it clear that they love their country and all American citizens could win.
42
Sorry, but the Democratic Party is now a front for the Socialist/Communist Party and they do very little to hide it. In their eyes, everything is free and the government should pay. The government pays for nothing . . . absolutely nothing. The taxpayer pays for everything the government does. Our Congress generates no funds and creates no wealth. The people . . . the taxpayers, create everything in the USA and Congress, out government takes the peoples money and divides it up. They try to redistribute the wealth they collect and punish those whom they decide make to much and use that money to buy votes from the others. This has been the Democratic Game Plan for generations and it is no secret. This country was founded on individuals making it or not by their own determination and energy . . . not by the will of government.
35
it's early. but never too early for the media to follow the Trumpster like a puppy dog and rollover ala 2016!
9
As long as some of us can go to the bank, it's OK that the President of the United States speaks in a manner that is indistinguishable for the most horrific of tyrants. Good luck folks. Should have followed my partners suggestion to relocate to Costa Rica when we had a chance a couple of years ago.
10
I find a strong undercurrent of the strain of evil about which Mr. Friedman writes in Trump. He fires up his Base with Misogyny, Racism, bashing the less fortunate, by appealing to their worst instincts. His statement to the effect that Voters respond more at the gut level than Intellect rings true and in a way is form of evil Genius. His knack for impassioning his voters by striking mortal fear in there hearts got him elected and may well get him re-elected. The current crop of Democrats leaves much to be desired. There is still time but the Democrats prospects are looking more imperiled every day.
7
Great article. My thoughts entirely! Now get the other Dems to agree and we could just win. You know what Will Rogers said “I don’t belong to any organized party. I’m a Democrat.”
18
As though we are an untuned piano, Trump is playing everyone - conservatives, religious right, liberals, centrists, the business community, other world governments - and reveling in his ability to do so. His immoral and unethical behavior and lies make mockery of his religious right support. His fiscal irresponsibility, tariffs, and non stop executive orders show his contempt for conservatives and the Constitution. His insults of other nations and heads of state show his disdain for his peers. Republicans grovel at his feet and Democrats heads explode because of his tweets and actions. No one, it seems, is able to reign him in. His leadership is spawning other "leaders" who follow his chaotic style and destruction.
If I was a believer in deities I would think Trump was the Anti Christ, or at least made a pact with the Devil. And yes, I fear Trump will be re-elected.
23
Life long Democrat of 78 years. Well said and especially the RI governor.
20
I enjoyed watching the democratic debates but yes, their focus on illegal immigration is gravely misplaced. Americans may not want to see children separated from their parents, but very few want to give illegal immigrants equal--or even more--rights and benefits as themselves. It is simply unfair--and illegal!--that way.
Even legal immigrants like myself are against such policies. In fact, we are probably even more against them. We worked long and hard--decades, for many--to become Americans, paying taxes and abiding laws along the way; why should we bother if all it takes is to drag your kids cross the border?
In fact, I think that the only people who support such radical policies are ignorant millennials (twitter-maniacs maybe?) AND, more importantly, corporate employers, who know very well that they can hire illegal immigrants at a fraction of the wages they pay for legals.
50
Friedman’s Governor Raimondo was from her first term. 2nd term Governor Raimondo has signed a law making expired union contracts extend in perpetuity. This was signed weeks before Johns Hopkins released a study naming Providence one of the worst school districts in the country. Visiting the schools left hardened veterans crying. That didn’t happen in any other district in the country. Raimondo also allowed a bill to make firefighter overtime kick in after 42 hours. Every other state starts firefighter OT at 53 hours. She sold out RI and Friedman has no idea what he’s talking about.
10
There used to be an expression that went along the lines of, “You’re heartless not to be a Democrat in college and clueless if you aren’t a Republican after college.”
I had gone the opposite way: I voted Republican at 18 having been raised in a conservative state and family, and subsequently became a registered Democrat after finding my own worldview.
Then came the 2016 election: after several years of growing disillusionment with the Democratic Party, Hillary was not an option for me, but neither was Trump. I voted third party. Come 2020, I see almost no one I could bring myself to vote for President among the Democrats (maybe Biden — maybe), and I don’t want to throw away my vote on someone unelectable. So guess what — I may just vote for Trump. Scorn me all you want, call me racist, white-privileged, whatever. Sticks and stones. Unchecked immigration, benefits to illegal immigrants, apologizing for America, and comparing detention centers to concentration camps — you’ve lost me, Democrats. My grandfather died in an actual concentration camp and comparing a US detention center to the date he suffered is an insult. My father had grown up behind the Iron Curtain and later taught me what communism looks like first hand; I won’t vote for anyone advocating it for MY country.
41
One thing that seems to be missing from Friedman's article is any mention of polls! I know polls aren't always totally accurate (as we saw in 2016) but they can definitely illustrate trends.
Emerson college polling conducted two polls concerning who would win the general election if it were held today. Interestingly, one poll came out right before the debates and one came out a few weeks after. The first poll put all democratic candidate front runners (Biden, Sanders, Warren, Harris, Buttigieg) ahead of Trump by significant margins while the second one only put Biden(+6) and Sanders(+2) ahead with the rest of the candidates now losing to Trump (and Sanders fell 8 points).
I think this big change is in line with what Friedman is saying: that the majority of voters were freaked out by some of the policies that these candidates were proposing. For example, decriminalizing illegal immigration and, at the same time, giving them free healthcare seems crazy when our immigration system is already completely overwhelmed and millions of Americans still don't have healthcare (also this issue will rally Trump's base and moderate republicans like no other issue). I'd prefer to vote for a dem like Harris over Biden, since Biden seems really weak in the debates, but I wish she and the other candidates would walk back some of the more radical proposals from the first debate since I strongly feel the majority of the country will not be on their side.
19
Haven't we tried this before with Bill, Barack, and Hillary and what happens is always the same. Dems get a moderate business friendly candidate elected who proceeds to implement marginal changes that don't do enough to redress problems with health care, economic security etc. Republicans call it a communist/socialist deficit raising apocalypse that robs everyone of "freedom" and promise to make America great again. Since moderate policies have left all the problems in place, voters see no improvement and put Republicans back in power. Republicans see nothing wrong with the status quo as a worst case scenario, problems remain, and the cycle starts all over again. What we need are policies that will effectively address the deep problems of inequality and security we have in our country or the cycle will continue. Moderation is not what will convince people that change has actually occurred. They need to go to the hospital and not get bills in the mail. They need to not lose their house or insurance when they lose their job. They need their parents to have enough money when they retire. They need a living minimum wage, affordable child care, guaranteed time off from work. They need to not be nickle and dimed by business and local government at every turn. The wealthy should pay for most of this because they've hogged most of the resources in the past, but we all have to pay some to live easier, more secure and more dignified lives.
26
Mr. Friedman: Thank you, thank you! Dems in the Deep South Red States are almost without hope. Can the Republic survive another four years of this constant denigration of the nation? Just returned from trip including stop in Nuremberg, with my parents’, “Never again, never in the US,” ringing in my ears. Thank goodness they are no longer alive to see what has happened to their beloved America—I cried—for their hopes, for my fears, for my children and grandchildren who face such an uncertain and dangerous future.
19
"Elect someone who agrees with me or face doom!" I will never understand why people listen to the guy who did everything he could to promote the war in Iraq, even after its catastrophic results were undeniable. And I will never understand how Mr. Friedman still has such self-confidence and so much faith in his own opinion.
15
George Will's recent comments in the Washington Post are well-considered: Michael Bennet may be the only candidate that can beat Trump.
8
Would you be so surprised if Andrew Cuomo waited out the pack to only jump in at the last minute to challenge Trump?. Given he has led government coupled with his recent signings and superb oratory skills. He would look better than any candidate the party is now offering for sure
6
Was anybody here in 2016? Voters emphatically said "no" to moderate, neoliberal Hillary Clinton, and chose somebody they believed would take the country in a new direction. But the Democratic establishment, grasping at straws attempting to stave of obsolescence, has put forward the exact same platform and the exact same rhetoric. No real changes in policy! Vote for us or you'll get Trump!
And what's all this about suburban white women? In the 2018 midterms only 47% of eligible voters participated. Presidential elections are different game. How about hispanic people, young people, working class people? What century is this?
13
People did not say no to Hillary because she was a moderate. They said no due to her record both professionally and in her personal life.
32
I agree with almost everything you say except one. Tax breaks for business. This is an old practice, and not a particularly successful one.
It is all predicated on the type of jobs being created. Does the local population have the skills to fill these jobs? Or, as in many cases, the company has had to have existing workers transfer and re-locate. This is not job creation, at least not on the scale that has been promised. (Did anyone really believe Jeff Bezos was really going to create 40,000 brand new jobs in NYC?)
Also why shouldn't a business pay their fair share of taxes?
Do they not expect the fire and police departments to respond when they call? When they need an ambulance, do they not expect it to arrive on taxpayer provided roads? Do they not use any of the local services and infrastructure?
I know one thing though, they do make deductions on their employees' paychecks.
6
I am a Canadian (white, middle class, perilously close to senior). As such, I really understand the desire for universal healthcare, more gun control, more equitable taxation, a more balanced approach to a multicultural society. We have lots of issues in Canada, but our society has decided that these are important pillars. But your article calls for a measured and balanced evolution towards a more equitable society, and because the US has such a long way to go and so many wounds to heal, that makes eminent sense. Those who despair, however, want revolution not evolution, and are inevitably the fodder for people who take control and manipulate them to their own ends. That's what scares me. Four more years of Trumpism will be very bad for Canada and the rest of the world. But maybe it will make us focus more on our other alliances and work harder to preserve our own values. It's a great object lesson.
9
I think Mr. Friedman is spot on. Rose Perot died recently and you just can't help think of what would might happen if someone similar were to run as a third party candidate with a similar common sense approach. Balance the budget (within reason), be environmentally conscience, believe in science, control the borders (with humanity), increase taxes on the rich to help pay down the debt and renegotiate unfair trade agreements to decrease our trade deficits to increase exports possibly increase production in the US and in general use common sense approaches based on fact to solve our problems. Does this sound like Make America Great Again with a softer edge and without a narcissist leading it? Yes, and I think it would be very popular and I would be willing to wager and hope that that such a candidate will enter the race come 2020.
13
I really can't see the US ever recovering from this catastrophe that is the Trump presidency. There is no doubt, 4 more years of him would lead to such a cultural rift (you think its bad now?) and the consolidation of the oligarchs-in-power, the country could never be united again. The outlook would be little better than that of the Handmaids Tale.
Conversely, no Democrat elected in 2020 will be able to unify the country. A McConnell-infested Senate will continue to stonewall and the clock will run out for the Dem's and the country.
12
@Smellydigit
"Handmaids Tale" - good grief!
How about:
Highest employment in history for blacks.
Highest employment in history for hispanics.
Highest employment for women in history.
Finally addressing the enormous illegal immigrant problem.
Finally facing down China (which Obama/Biden steered clear from).
Strongest stock market in history. Low interest rates.
4 million new jobs since 2016.
Manufacturing jobs growing at fastest rate in 30 years.
Median household income is highest ever recorded.
Small businesses have lowest tax rate in 80 years.
The list goes on. . .
17
Perhaps cultural rift is by design and not by Trump
The act of 1798 for starters
Couldn't have said it better myself. I'm a blue state liberal from California, so I know my views aren't necessarily shared by voters in other parts of the country. However...
I recently completed a six-day vacation to the Dakotas - states I had never visited previously. I came away with one overwhelming conclusion: Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders would be a complete disasters for the Democratic Party, were they to receive the nomination.
Voters in the vast middle of the country don't want a revolution. They don't want AOC and her push for socialism. They don't want Medicare for all or open borders.
Voters in the vast middle of the country are moderates. They just want a return to civility, fairness and economic opportunity. They want an end to Trump's offensive, crazy-making style of leadership.
If Democrats have any chance of winning in 2020 at all, it is because they will nominate a centrist who can unite the country and return a sense of normalcy and decency.
In addition, for there to be any progress at all on matters Democrats care about, they will need to win back that Senate. That means ousting the evil Mitch McConnell, a man who, single-handedly, has done more to damage our country than any other person in my lifetime, save Donald J. Trump.
54
Tom, your next column needs to address how the Democrats should respond to Trump's taunts, which resemble the outbursts of the loudest guy at the bar after too many drinks. As you have been saying on television, use Trump's bad-boy conduct constructively. Each time he acts particularly badly, the party should have a platform in place to raise a $100,000,000 to be used for Democratic candidates in the 2020 elections. Are there a million people who will contribute $100 each time Trump does something especially outrageous? Are there are 10 million who will contribute $10 each time? Donald Trump is the best thing that could have happened for Democrats to raise money, register new voters, and get their voters out in 2020.
12
Mr Friedman,
You are one of the smartest people I read, but the basic issue is security. There is a reason war time presidents are not sacked, people are afraid. Mr. Trump (may) have significant character flaws, but he is speaking with Russia, North Korea and has made overtures to Iran. The world is less safe then it was 4 years ago, and if Mr. Trump gets re-elected, it will be due to his pro-military rhetoric. The Dems do not have one major candidate pushing for a stronger defense and stabilizing presence in the world.
9
Interesting...remember when the challenger was too hawkish? This president has done nothing to make the US stronger. He has weakened our relationships with our allies and courts dictators. This is making America stronger in the World? Ha! Russia's GDP tiny compared to the US and their Military is underfunded due to this. Your comment confuses me....just say you like Trump, you like his bully pulpit, you like men leading no matter how flawed they are, you like that all of our problems are because of immigrants...you like all he stands for and nothing will have you vote against him.
7
So, if a person shows up to the emergency room with a gunshot wound, we should check their citizenship status first?
No?
Sounds like you're for providing healthcare to illegal immigrants.
Therein lies the problem with the question that was asked with the debate. There are more nuances to the answers to it than can be expressed through a raise of hands.
14
The Democratic candidates raised their hands raised in support of providing comprehensive health coverage to undocumented immigrants.
Nobody demanded to raise the taxes to pay for those additional benefits.
Nothing speaks louder about inability of the Democrats to run this country.
Those candidates don’t understand the cost of the benefits provided to the people.
How can you bestow the lavish benefits upon the whole country?
By taxing them first!
There are 22 trillion current reasons not to vote for a Democrat.
However, the fact that our national debt is skyrocketing right now at the fastest speed ever indicates that we already have a Democrat in the White House.
Donald Trump!
15
One of the big reasons Trump will win is the mainstream media subconsciously wants him to. He provides ratings and visuals (like his ridiculous rallies where supporters mindlessly chant "send her back" or "lock her up" and countless outrages which dominate the news cycle for a few days until the next outrage. Meanwhile, media interviewers have no ability to maybe once ask a few follow-up questions and expose Trump almost nonexistent grasp of any issue or simply say that Trump is lying. The media is made up of elites whose lives will not change a whit whether Trump is President or not. Kasie Hunt, Thomas Friedman, or Rachel Maddow or whoever don't need to worry about losing their health insurance or missing a paycheck and not being able to pay the gas bill. Look at those silly MSNBC debates where the army of Democratic candidates was told to raise their hands to agree to one far-left position or another. No talk of issues that really matter to many Americans. Finally, we have people like Joe Scarborough who feel compelled to offer Trump advice on how to win. Great idea, thanks guy.
19
I never saw it this way. But now looking back every time the President tweets he creates three days of conversation at a minimum to help fill out the 24 hr news cycle. Interesting. So then we really dont know if Rachael Maddow or others truly support Trump or not. The issue is survival and a paycheck more so than integrity. Interesting. It would go both ways. That would explain why there has been no further outrage of investigation into Susan Ford or the strippers etc. Because its all done for ratings? Is everyone following Alinsky these days?
2
@ToddG. I completely agree. What does a classic narcissist/bully want? ATTENTION. Where does trump get his from? THE MEDIA
10
"Growing the pie" ("Make the pie higher!"?) puts more carbon in the atmosphere and leads to the end of a habitable planet for humans. The very tough truth is that we need a candidate who will tell us honestly that our standard of living must fall if we're going to have a chance of survival, at least until we can move to an all green-energy economy.
And no one will tell us that, because anyone who did would lose, and lose big.
So we're doomed.
11
How many readers or commenters here have a vote that matters in the 2020 presidential election? Unless you live in FL or a handful of other states, your vote doesn't count.
If you care about these issues, vote at the local level or vote with your pocketbook. The local and state governments get things done. The U.S. government is broken and unlikely to get fixed.
13
So true everyone should watch the Hamlin and Breslin documentary. At the end Jimmys widow makes some very important comments about state and local government
3
Mr. Friedman, I share many of your thoughts, but I would make a single policy exception to your advice about moderation: climate change. On this, there can be no gentle gray area, and there is no more time to waste on half-measures. The Democratic nominee must champion real change in the way our country's energy needs are met. I am looking for "extremism" in this one area. We have no other choice.
13
Dont look for extremism. Look to helping people help themselves to be devoid of continuing to be let down because of emotional fears Thats the Democratic Party. So fearful that the Southern Democrats voted for Reagan that began this journey. The democrats just now beginning to realize that their short term strategies will not morph to the long term
1
Tom is right. All the way down to village dog catcher it's one man one vote. But not for the Presidency. That is what enables Trump to employ the strategy to win '20. That's his primary and singular objective, all that comes from him is driven by that. The Dems run the risk as they did in '72 and '88 of running to far from the center and gift an election to the GOP. The reality of next years election is that 6-7 states will decide the election. The voters in those key districts in those states are where this will be won or lost, and the Dems had better wise up & fast.
15
Of course Trump is going to win, and it will be because DINOs (Democrats In Name Only) have forgotten how Trump won. DINOs always want to shelve radically idealistic ideas in favor of some cautionary, fearful, back-pedalling moves that privilege the status quo over something that will actually galvanize their own voters and bring new ones on board. I'm personally in favor of expanded Medicare with a robust public option. But if you don't rally around a big, bold, proud acceptance of a the radical principle of healthcare for all, you will never get to first base.
4
The iron is, the items you favor have been a great success under Trump. Historically low unemployment, the mindset of securing our boarders, prioritizing Americans, and verterans first when it comes to healthcare.
You're right, Trump has been a revolution. He was elected to office because Americans were long tired of the same charades and empty promises of career politicians. Part of Trump's appeal is that he tells it like it is. He's not PC, and he's not in it for the money. He donates his salary to great causes, and has sacrificed significant personal wealth while in office.
At the very core of his campaign, he is truly America first. No apology tours, hundred+ million distributions to foreign countries with nothing in return. From a trade war with China, to encouraging dialog with N. Korea and our booming economy, Trump has been a welcomed change of pace.
You said it yourself. The left is too radical. Socialism doesn't work. Open borders invites crime and terrorism that we've been fortunate to avoid for the better part of our history. Shifting tuition debt to taxpayers contradicts the fabric of capitalism and personal responsibility. For the super wealth class that invites drastic tax increases, here's a tip. You don't have to wait for a tax. Donate your wealth to the national debt, or the causes of your choice. The middle class always pays in the end. Trump 2020 is a vote of keeping America first.
16
There are well qualified moderates running for the Democratic nomination like Governor Jay Inslee and former Governor John Hickenlooper but unfortunately they are not exciting the base nor the media the moderates the debates. Both of these men have progressive ideas and experience to use the power of capitalism to lead to better environmental stewardship and improved population health management. Incremental progress using the power of capitalism by a sane executive is the best direction this country can take. Unfortunately that seems kind of boring to the media but boring can be good.
9
You make a good point. They are not appealing to the base because for the last 35 years the shepherds have led the sheep astray. So sad.
2
Yes, Mr. Friedman, we do need a revolution. The policies of the “reasonable, sane” democrats of the last 40 years are what brought us Donald Trump. Unless the democratic nominee can bring some big ideas to the table, with specific plans to improve American life across the board - ideas so compelling that voters will demand their representatives in Congress drop their corporate overlords and throw out a lifeline to Americans who need health care, are sinking in student loan debt, and/or work more than one job to keep the rent paid - you can expect another Trump term. And that is truly scary, for what comes after Trump? Candidates will never again hew to the old decency playbook - it will be clear what wins elections: meanness and theatre, and that genie will never go back in the bottle.
Now is the time for course correction. Provide sane and sensible relief to struggling Americans by moving forward with reforms that comport with the norms of today’s first world countries. Universal health care and tuition free college are not out of step with prosperous nations; it is not radical to expect generous social policies from the wealthiest nation the world has ever known.
11
I agree with the scope of your argument but keys points you present are worrisome, For every action there is a reaction. The cumulative actions have brought about Trump. Not solely a democratic creation.
@Lisa Calef
Nope. Last 40 years have been nothing but conservative ideology run amok, starting with Reagan. Subsequent Dems lead from the center to center right.
There have been no Johnson style liberals since, well Johnson.
6
Amen!
3
You seemed particularly astonished about providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants. When you get sick in a foreign country and say you’ve lost your passport, should you be denied care? And apart from just not being afraid to make a humane argument, how about the economic one: we’re going to pay for it one way or the other, better to do so with an eye toward prevention rather than all of it having to be more expensive emergency costs. Sorry i think the milk toast don’t rock the boat let’s be safe and not take any stands approach is just as risky as taking new, bold stands on issues. Your way of thinking is the same as Pelosi vis a vis impeachment. My response is: why would i vote democrat if they’re not going to even attempt to do something once in power?
4
Just heard Tom on The 11th Hour. Will Tom Perez PLEASE hire this man?
5
Saw Mr Friedman on 11th hour last night, please consider running for president, Thomas. We could use a little sanity. I’m a life long Democrat that disagrees with most of our candidates positions.
3
Almost 4500 comments up to now.
Congratulations Mr. Friedman.
You hit the jackpot with this one.
8
I think this article is a little over the top, but there is some truth to it. Why would anyone who advocated Medicare for All say that means eliminating insurance companies from providing health insurance when Medicare Advantage is a private insurance option available to seniors who qualify for Medicare? And why does Medicare for All necessarily mean losing insurance from your employer when seniors who qualify for Medicare can opt to remain on their own or their spouse’s employee health insurance? I did it myself. Before going off half cocked, people like Friedman should do a little research. And, to be fair, when Democratic candidates who advocate Medicare for All raise their hand in favor of eliminating private health insurance, especially from employment, they ought to learn a little bit about how Medicare as it currently exists actually works.
8
Candidates supported Health care for all not Medicate for all, health care for all means. all Americans have access to some form of health care whether private or government managed
2
Thom, I respect your opinion, but you are always SO wrong.
9
Very disappointing from Mr. Friedman. I expected a less conservative more fact-based opinion from him.
5
@DSD Don't forget that Trump did not win on facts. He won by stirring and manipulating people's emotions. Facts are for only for rational people, which half of the voters are not. Unfortunately this is the current state. We need to understand human (which itself may be an ugly fact), not just data.
5
Good thing you weren’t around during the French revolution spouting your cautionary tale.
2
Wisdom.
The party of FDR, JFK, and heck even WJC is dead. Gone. Over. The DNC sold their souls to the radical race hustler identity politics, free everything socialists. The recent clown car debate proved it to the world beyond any reasonable doubt. What is sad is how the DNC base seems totally ignorant (or in denial) about the reality of their politics.
13
@DecliningSociety Democrats haven't done anything to benefit the average person since the 1930's, save a brief spell under LBJ. But they keep running as if they have. An Independent who voted a straight D ticket in 2018 to send a message but won't make that mistake again. They're hopeless.
2
This is the utter, unvarnished truth. AOC and your BFFs, I luvya, but you're currently serving as Donald Trump's collective straight man.
10
Of course Trump will be re-elected.
Who in their right mind would vote in support of Democrat-endorsed taxpayer-subsidized ‘free’ health insurance for illegal aliens?...the decriminalization of illegal border crossings (aka ‘open borders’)?....sanctuary and legal protection from immigration law enforcement?
...the elimination of private health insurance?...real estate subsidies exclusively for ‘people of color’?...reparations for slavery?...free college tuition etc?...everything paid for by middle-class taxpayers, of course.
Come to your senses yet?
23
As much as I would love for Democrats to stand on their principles, I have to agree with Mr. Friedman. Please read how National-Socialists (aka Nazis) took over power in Weimarer Repulik. It's not like they had the majority but the left was so sure of itself, they started an infighting which made Hitler's party win the majority (not a 2 party system).
7
The New York Times is shyly showing its neoliberal bias and Mr. Friedman obviously has conveniently "forgotten" the Democratic Party's 2015 - 2016 presidential race debacle. Permit me to briefly review just a few of the more salient historical political facts the neoliberal centrist of the Democratic Party and the NYT editorial staff continue to pretend they don't remember from the 2016 Presidential election.
In 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton was politically the epitome of the experienced, eminently qualified and "reasonable" Democratic presidential Mr. Friedman wistfully calls for in 2020. The popular preference for Ms. Clinton as President was plainly evidenced by her winning the national popular vote by over THREE MILLION. Mr. Trump won the Electoral College vote and the Presidency by winning several key states by a collective popular vote total of LESS THAN 300,000.
Just about every major news publication, national poll, social media outlet and the elites of both national political parties were supporting and predicting a decisive victory for HRC.
However, Ms. Clinton and the Democratic Party ran what has been extensively analyzed and documented, one of the most inept and defective political campaigns in recent history.
In 2019 as evidenced in the current front runner status of Vice President (Legacy Before Progress) Biden and Sen. Kamala (The Kameleon), Harris the neoliberal centrists of the Democratic Party are on track to reprise the debacle of November 2016.
11
How about a poor black girl who became genuinely stupendously wealthy (unlike the con man in the White House) by uniting people for decades?
Oprah, where are you?!
7
I like and applaud the condition upon which Raimundo based granting tax incentives to new business: pay a living wage!
2
CNBC just named Rhode Island 50th in Their Top States for Business survey. Her economic policies are great for a few companies but horrible for existing small businesses or for someone trying to start a business
3
Maybe you should consider running, Mr. Friedman.
2
@ThomasFriedman Please temporarily put your journalism career on hold and run one of the democratic candidate’s campaign. Please.
4
Your sanctimonious pejorative of President Trump as a "jerk" is indicative why so many people will ultimately react and cast their vote for him...
8
Agree completely with Mr. Friedman. When I see more than 20 Democrats vying for the Democratic nomination, I imagine a clown car pulling up, center ring, and an endless stream of clowns emerging. I don't mean to say these people are clowns. But I can't escape the image.
Presently the Democrats are engaged in a combination Game of Thrones and Hunger Games rivalry. They seem to have forgotten 'who the real enemy is.' It's not old moderates or young progressives. It's a Donald Trump presidency that is toxic, that corrodes laws, morals and values. It makes me want to shake these candidates collectively and ask what the hell do they think they're doing?
The smoke-filled back room where party leaders selected their choice isn't ideal either. But what makes one term congressmen, and senators think they're seasoned enough to run for president? This is politics answer to the 15 minutes of fame being extrapolated ad absurdum.
At this stage of the game the focus should be on restoring the order, sense, diplomacy Trump destroyed. The average Democrat or Independent voter is moderate. Focus on that. Focus on winning the election first. Stop scaring people. With a strong economy it's apparent Republicans won't leave Trump. So it's up to Democrats to win or lose this.
5
@woody3691 Did you happen to watch any of the 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate debates? That was the birth of the clown car. How did that turn out? A few months from now, no one will remember anything about these current Democratic debates. Republican operatives and Trump TV will be doing the same dirty deeds they always do and will make sure they drag the election into the primordial muck, their preferred ground for engaging the enemy.
2
I agree with mr Friedman
2
I agree
1
Sounds reasonable. Unfortunately, doing nothing to end the incessant cannibalistic economic and governmental corruption that has brought us to the brink of ecosystem collapse now will do us in (existential crisis means dead, de-sugarcoated.) Elizabeth Warren is articulating policies that not only empower us to begin now to battle ecological collapse, and end the corruption in our institutions that have led us here, she has put forward plans that are persuasive to the most Americans. To put it bluntly, Mr Friedman is lobbying for the corrupt organizations/institutions who are the tories of the American Revolution, not the Americans who fought to establish the nation, whose principles of governance are delineated in our Constitution. A government of the people, by the people, and for the people, needs, in times like these - a real leader, like Senator Warren, who understands that we need a leader who can teach the people how to get democracy back. The challenge is not finding the middle of the road, it is making manifest, once again, Lincoln's wisdom - government of, and by, the people, becomes again, government for the people.
6
After over 5000 comments posted there is probably nothing new I can add, but the one thing that sticks out to me is the idea that to the way to beat Trump is to nominate a sensible candidate who will appeal to the kitchen table issues that are more important to the average voter.
The problem I have with this particular analysis is Trump’s candidacy was originally greeted by the mainstream GOP as joke, and he was routinely condemned by these same mainstream Republicans as “not representative of their party.”
Go back and read the original National Review articles, the speeches by the likes of Ryan, and any number of the GOP establishment, and you will be hard pressed to find any high ranking GOP official who supported Trump or thought he had a legitimate chance of winning the nomination and even less of a chance of winning the national election.
The thinking was the GOP needed to nominate the standard bearer of their own choice, such as Bush or Rubio, both of whom Trump was easily able to relegate to the GOP’s “clown car” of GOP nominee hopefuls.
The Democrats have their own “clown car” issues this time around, and the way I see it Trump will easily dispatch “Sleepy Joe,” “Pocahontas,” and that “foreigner” Kamala Harris, basically by using the Democrats own party split against them.
To use an NFL analogy: Trump keeps running the same play until his opponents prove they can stop it; well as of now Trump just keeps moving the ball downfield.
2
DEMS need to remember the rich & powerful who want Trump re-elected. It must be a landslide victory for DEMS or Trump will not leave.
Please choose a moderate left candidate. (One thing at a time.)
2
Here are some things to keep in mind: Bernie's polling in a head to head with Trump now is ~9 pts above Trump. He was 10 pts above Trump in Jan 2016 when Hillary was only 4 points. Hillary never rose above 4pts throughout. Michigan went big for Bernie in the primaries. If we discount the support Hillary got from the red southern states, because they don't yield electoral votes, Bernie might have won the primary and the election. It is tiring to hear your "opinions" about who can get Independents. Let's look at the numbers. We need someone authentic and inspiring, not some middle of the road candidate that makes us plug our nose when voting for the lesser of two evils.
8
@Bridget Hillary won fair and square over Bernie. If Bernie could put aside personal differences for the common goods and supported Hillary fully, Hillary would be in the White House today.
7
"But I’m disturbed that so few of the Democratic candidates don’t also talk about growing the pie, let alone celebrating American entrepreneurs and risk-takers. Where do they think jobs come from?"
Where do you think jobs come from, Mr. Friedman? They don't come from entrepreneurs. If you do, I don't think you've ever had to write a business plan, have you. Do you know what get's businesses funded? I don't think you do. I'll tell you.
Entrepreneurs may have great ideas for great products, great inventions. Know who gets funded? Entrepreneurs who can successfully identify large accessible markets in which reasonable penetration translates to profitability. In other words success businesses must identify not only people who want their product, but also people who can and will pay a price for that product that precludes the business going out of business because they're "too successful" at an unprofitable price.
So, businesses rely on adequate customer bases, of people who can and will pay enough for that product. And that is the real reason why the destruction of a large middle class in the US is a threat to the health of our economy. Demand, no supply, drives the economy.
If that's not high toned enough for you Mr. Friedman, I know you prefer to rub elbows with billionaires. So go talk to Ned Hanauer, a billionaire investor in Washington State. Mr. Hanauer will explain how the economy actually works to you. Maybe you'll learn something. Anything is possible.
5
We ….together must as a unified nation must restore our
Republic....and stop the mayhem that Trump continues to
create...in order to keep ….not USA safe....but to keep
himself in office.
Unify should be the call for all Americans who will vote in
November 2020;
Unify: on the global economy of 2020; on our survival as
a democracy; on our relationship with our allies on climate
change;...Unify and...then explain that divided we will fail
to succeed as a democracy.
Please Tom Friedman....; go on TV again and again...with
all those who can explain the positive ways that democracy
can succeed....you and all the academics who are on
commercial TV...; be as blunt about it as you were today and
yesterday...our journalists cannot depend only on print;
they also must also be oratorical;
Imagine a debate between you and Bill Buckley...Go For It !!!
3
Very unfortunate but Friedman doesn't understand that the Dems will lose again not because some politicians in the party are offering a normal, humanistic alternative to what is and what has become of America, but Pelosi, Hoyer, Schumer and the majority of establishment Dems, don't feel any pain in their pocketbooks. That's the bottom line. And hence, they won't do a massive education blitz or even do what Friedman suggests because they have long ago sold out low and middle income Americans.
The Democrats should be making strong connections between money in politics and the ability to get affordable healthcare, housing, wages, even our ability to get decent news has to do with deregulation, and the chaos that has erupted with the internet. Instead we hear sound bites, talking points and weakness and moderates calling all those things left wing. Terribly sad but the US has been on this trajectory for many years. We saw it coming.
Not too far behind Nazi Germany.
5
Oh, bravo, Mr. Friedman!
Precisely.
2
Amen. Elections are about getting 51% not about exciting the KKK or catering to outliers like ‘The Squad’. Mr Trump won because he made populist promises to people the ‘Progrrssives’ for some reason want to leave out of their “Emerging majority” of minorities, LGBTQ folks, and immigrants. Democrats need to see that the factories have not been reopened and the other populist promises have not been kept by this administration and work to reclaim the blue collar vote.
3
Trump is a BLOWHARD Propagandist. It is best to pay him no mind at all.
1
I read about 3 paragraphs of this op piece and said to myself- "This is written by a white guy over 50". Of course, everything is fine for him.
7
Do you meanyou have a problem with Ms. Warren?
Hope not.
5
Even Friedman doesn't get it. Terribly terribly out of touch all these neoliberals. Just nominate a safe Centrist and everything will be great again. Sure Thomas forgiving sure just like it was with Dukakis just like it was with John Kerry just like it was without Gore and just like it was with Hillary Clinton. You guys never get it
9
Hey New York Times: What happened to that article you were going to write about people who voted for Trump but regret their decision? Not too long ago you were asking readers to contact you on this matter, so you must have collected interviews. I look forward to your findings. They might help us deduce if he will indeed get re-elected. Maybe his base got smaller.
9
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Who will stand up for America and never turn her down? Who will support the USA no matter the danger in doing so? And who will never, never shirk our sacred duty to support our country, Donald or the four new congress women? We already know the answer, and it's right in front of us, if we have a half-way decent memory.
Donald had the chance to support our country many years ago, but he chose his pleasures instead of his country. He had a chance to show that he REALLY loves and supports our country, which my uncle George did when he decided to join the free world to support the fight against the Nazis. But George died in his first week of combat.
Donald pretended that he was injured and some other young had to go in his place. He is not a true American and has no right to denigrate those four congress women. Perhaps he's ridiculing them because he knows in what heart he still has left that he's the person who's short of patriotism.
3
I am sorry, "encouraging legal immigration of . . . high-I.Q. foreigners"? This is an expression of ableism unsubstantiated by science. Social and biological diversity, not some eugenic selection process, makes a population strong. It is unfortunate that you felt it is legitimate to include this line in your article.
5
No time to elaborate now, just want to offer thanks for both this and the prior article about Israel.
2
Just to review: Donald Trump making "The Squad" the face of the Democratic Party will encourage swing voters to vote for Trump, but Trump being a racist who's close friends with a convicted pedophile and sex offender won't bother them at all.
What's wrong with our country?
4
Tom Friedman for President! He gets it!
1
Mr. Friedman, I'd vote for you.
3
"Voters have reason to worry" -- the subheadline is inaccurate. It should read, "New York Times readers have reason to worry."
6
Isn't democracy great!? Mr Toads wild ride.
WHY do so many people seem to think attacking Trump will lose the election for Dems. If a presidential candidate can't walk and chew gum at the same time, drop out of the race now! Fight fire with fire, plain and simple! Never cower to a bully. Call this con-man in our WH out! And in the very next breath, talk about CENTRIST issues or be prepared to lose in 2020. It's that simple. Let me very clear on this however, if Dems continue on these issues during the campaigns, they will undoubtedly lose in 2020, guaranteed!
- NO to Medicare for all ( improve ACA and keep Insurance for those who want it).
- NO to covering illegal immigrants!!
- NO to entry in to our country until vetted and amnesty approved.
- NO to free college tuition. (lower costs, reduce interest on loans, etc).
- NO to paying for abortions.
- No to Reparations bill (unless slavery was still forced upon an individual after slavery was abolished).
-NO to Citizens United.
- YES to DACA
- YES to the Environment. Enter back in to the Paris Agreement!
- YES to restoring respect Globally.
- YES to back ground checks on guns, and eliminating weapons of war!!!
-YES to revoking the Trump tax-cuts for the rich, and giving it back to our middle class.
- YES to labor/union jobs
- YES to equal pay for women
- YES, and most important...A woman must be on the ticket
These are just to name a few. Find the middle ground, Dems can always change it up once in office, but we have to get there first, and Centrist is how we do it!
9
Thank God Trump will replace RGB with a real judge! 4 more years! Promise open boarders and socialism and we get the House back! Thank you liberals!
2
I want to see an Oprah and Mayor Pete ticket
2
What a unique and dangerous time for America! We have an unambiguously racist President who spews hate daily and operates concentration camps within our borders. We have a Senate Majority Leader who does little except carry water for that President. We have an Attorney General with no apparent limit to the amount of excrement he will eat to please his master. We have a Grand Old Party which has entirely lost its grandeur as it grovels and genuflects to a would-be emperor with no clothes. We have a Speaker of the House channeling Neville Chamberlain and his failed policies of appeasement. We have that Speaker's party in disarray while it looks for the moral compass it seems to have misplaced and tries to find its spine. And while the cacophony of cross-talk from our nation's capitol builds to crescendo, hard-working Americans suffer new losses every, single day. Robots and smart machines owned by the wealthy take jobs away from workers but immigrants get blamed. Essential medications skyrocket in price but the pharmaceutical companies get big tax breaks instead of reprimands, fines, and jail time for their CEOs. Water and food supplies are regularly poisoned by toxic chemicals while environmental regulations continue to be scrapped. Privacy has become a thing of the past as big tech monitors us all without restraint. And the band plays on and on and on in this new gilded age in which our "leadership" all seems to have sworn fealty to the multinational corporations.
8
Exactly!
This next election is not about health care, climate change, immigration, civil rights or the wealth gap.
It's about determining if America has a soul.
12
Wow.. Do you really think the ideas of the most liberal Democrats are somewhat extreme? Maybe they are in your view, but those are the only ideas that will prevent the vulnerable from falling even deeper. Have a look around the civilized world, please. I implemented that your country .........
9
Polarization is going to squeeze the great middle
3
Hope he will.
Racist PROPAGANDA wins in America. Trump is racist propaganda. coached by adviser Stephen Miller: The anti-immigrant "genius" behind Trump.
7
Spare us your appeal to Democrats.
Republicans who don't consider themselves part of the MAGA cabal, who don't want to see children separated from their parents and who don't like seeing the President of the United States choose Vladimir Putin over our own intelligence community, need to hold their noses and vote this madman out of office.
8
It's important to remember that Caligula cannot possibly be reelected! Because he was never elected in the first place. Hillary Clinton won the 2016 elecion, in spite of massive Russian interference in favor of Caligula and against Hillary. Caligula is ILLEGITIMATE! He's never been elected to anything. Never.
Should Caligula win in 2020, it MIGHT be the first time he's ever been elected to anything in his entire life. Assuming the 2020 election is legitimate (Putin may insure that's it's not), unlike the illegitimate installation of Caligula in 2016 after Hillary won the actual election, despite massive Russian interference against her and in favor of Caligula and in spite of James Comey's blunders that also damaged Hillary's campaign.
6
The Squad does NOT approve of this message.
So why isn't Gina Raimondo running for president? Sigh.
1
She’s deeply unpopular in RI. Her first term she was a centrist. Second term she’s governed from the left fringe. She’s not the person Friedman writes about. Sold her soul to public unions. In Providence & Warwick high value homes have lost value forcing a higher share of taxes on people with lower valued homes & renters. There are about 60 houses on my street in Warwick. 3 years ago none we’re owned by Llc’s. Now 5 are rentals owned by rental companies. I don’t know if any are rented out by homeowners. This is because people don’t believe in the future here. Sellers leave the state replaced by poorer renters.
Except for the fact that he supported the Iraq War, I think, I couldn't adore Thomas Friedman more. I look to him for guidance, and articulation.
1
DEMS please listen to Mr. Friedman. What he is saying is so true. This is the best way to deal with and defeat Trump. I haven't seen any high price political strategist come up with anything better.
I have been listening to him on the 11th Hour on MSNBC with Brian Willams.
Mr. Friedman has given great ideas to defeat Trump. Be patient, let's win the Oval Office first then we can talk about a Revolution, but first thing first.
Use these negative comments that Trump has said and get people to register to vote. Stop complaining and making speeches and beat Trump at the ballot box. This is the only way we can get rid of this lawless and unethical person in the Oval Office. It is difficult to defeat an individual that has sold his soul to the Devil. We can see what happened in Germany. Please DEMS- THINK!!! and stop dealing with emotions.
6
Mr Trump will be re-elected because too many people agree with his "Make America White Again" agenda.
3
Thanks, Tom...always count on you for common sense.
3
Mr. Friedman,
I saw your interview on the 11th Hour with Brian Williams on Wednesday, July 17 where you spoke about having a Marathon on TV to raise money to register new voters.
I live in Bucks County in PA and I am on PA State Committee. Last year I ran a Voter Registration Initiative in Bucks County. By election day on November 2018 we had 11,000 more Registered Democrats than Republicans.
I feel that not enough people understand the importance of registering new voters by 2020. This may be the only way to remove Donald Trump from office.
I think if you speak to this it may get more people to start a movement to raise money and do nation wide voter registration.
Thank you for speaking out.
9
"Four years of Trump unburdened by the need to run for re-election . . ."
You sure about that? Because Trump is already talking -- seriously now -- about not four but eight more years or longer. You think he is just joking? Suppose he is not, which is a distinct possibility because, with trump, you can never tell. He is the Commander-in-Chief, you know.
3
". . . [S]pare me the revolution! It can wait. " But can it really? Like Mr. Friedman, I, too, absolutely do not want to see four more years of DJT and his ilk. But ever heard of a revolution occurring in peace time? Haven't all revolutions occur in times of upheaval? Think US 1773; France 1789; Russia 1917; China 1949; Cuba 1959; Iran 1979 . . . . Yes, I know, not all of them ended well, but suspend that knowledge for a minute. Just think that whenever there is a mass shooting in this country and people start demanding stricter gun control measures, the pro-gun lobby goes: "This is not the time to talk about gun control. We must think about the victims." This "logic" conveniently bypasses the notion that had there been stricter gun control measures to begin with, there wouldn't be any victims to have to think about. And a few months after the event, the talk gun about control trails off until the next massacre occurs. Thus, the time to talk about gun control is precisely the time when those massacres occur. Likewise, the president w/ his horrible tweets, remarks and statement is causing a major upheaval. And this is precisely the time to begin dealing with all the ills of this country: racism, healthcare, income inequality, education inequality, police brutality, global warming . . . The list is long, so let's get started!
4
When you have this many running for the Democratic presidency sweepstakes it makes one scratch their head. Are these people really serious or is this just a popularity contest? Then when you hear the ideas you scratch your head some more. They cannot really be saying things that will not only not fly but will probably kill themselves and their moment. If the election were held tomorrow trump would be the favorite to win. Let’s not have another four years of jerkball governance. Please!
6
I’ve been a life long democrat but they are getting too far left. I look forward to @realDonaldTrump & the #squad going away ASAP. Enough drama!
3
Joe has lost his juice. Liz is too juiced, 24/7. Bernie is too far out- let murderers vote! And they all seem to lack any spine. To stand up to the Twitter left, each other, a bogus race card, etc.
Also, (and this is the Pelosi left & Twitter- juiced Squad left, ie, most Dems) they make no clear, sensible, fair mark on the page where Trump’s signature issue -immigration- keeps dominating. Time to step up and that does not mean decriminalizing or doling out free healthcare! They have to show they are not simply dismissing and denigrating Americans concerns about illegal immigration, which, given their focus and messaging, is how they come across. (And how they make more Trump voters!)
5
“Four years of Trump unburdened by the need to run for re-election and able to [...] make Ivanka Secretary of State”
Yikes.
3
Please call each candidate personally and ask them to read your article and either write a single PowerPoint slide capturing your insight as part of their focused message or one that explains how they ignore you and win more electoral votes than your position would.
3
"I was shocked at all those hands raised in support of providing comprehensive health coverage to undocumented immigrants. I think promises we’ve made to our fellow Americans should take priority, like to veterans in need of better health care."
So you believe there exists a hierarchy of human beings from undeserving, through degrees of deserving, to those extra-deserving of health care, with, at its apex, those who serve America in the world, by killing, when called upon, typically non-white people. Now that's shocking.
Moral vision easily slips when questions that arise in budgetary context are allowed to displace fundamental questions of humanity, which they most readily do when those involved are Other, whether because not citizens or not white or not gainfully employed or, in any way, not Us. That's the point of positing health care as a fundamental human right, one not susceptible to compromise for this or that group of humans.
It was for health care as a fundamental human right that the Democratic candidates raised their hands at the debate, for its immediate logical consequence that we cannot knowingly choose to risk the health and lives of those under our jurisdiction, whether we believe they belong there or not. That may shock a great many Americans, but only because we have grown used to the atrophy of all sense of common humanity, under the sustained onslaught of might makes right, wealth makes right, white makes right, and celebrity makes even righter.
4
Tom, run for president. Please! Your comments about what's wrong, and your solutions, make great sense!
3
Tom, you are spot on. At 69, I am more liberal than I was at 18! But, but....who were these people? OK, Amy and Mayor Pete are my picks, so far😇
4
If Mr. Friedman thinks jobs are the road to victory for Democrats, he must have missed out on the past two years. Unemployment is the lowest in half a century. Today it is the lowest ever for African Americans, their youth, and Hispanics. Women also are the lowest unemployment ever. The handicapped were losing jobs before Trump. Over the last two years, their jobs have increased 7-11%. The Economy has grown. 224,000 new jobs were added in June. Wages are rising. Mr. Friedman's column gives us insight about the polarization. In just one paragraph of one sentence, he calls Trump four different names. Trumps supporters have been described as underemployed, under educated, white guys with missing and bad teeth. Barron was called autistic. Melania was called a prostitute. Trumps’ supporters have been called garbage people. The Democrats spent two years assured that Trump colluded with Putin and Mueller would nail him. Didn’t happen. During those first two years, they did not pass a single piece of legislation. So far this year, they believe collusion to be their prize and still, nothing accomplished. If Mr. Friedman thinks jobs and reducing hostility are the key, he may be disappointed. Especially when Trump talks about their plans to raise taxes, increase restrictions and make everything free. Those people who were part of that red wave in the last election know nothing’s free
3
The revolution isn’t coming. The civil war will no doubt return.
5
Thomas Friedman you are so wrong. The revolution cannot wait..this nation is quickly unraveling and devolving into a cesspool. Moderation, cowardice, equivocation, Milque toast...these mainstream Democratic tactics have accelerated this demise rather than stem it. Bernie Sanders is the true champion of the fundamental change required to save this nation and relieve the world of our chaos.
1
There's a reason those policy proposals shocked you: you're close-minded, complacent, and stupid. 70% of Americans support medicare for all. Every other Western democracy has implemented it to great success, but somehow the idea shocks you. Opening arbitrary borders also mortifies you because it goes against the status quo to which you're accustomed. It doesn't matter to you that doing so could end human suffering on a massive scale. It also doesn't matter to you that disenfranchised voters see the two parties as equally plutocratic.
Trump did not win by playing it safe. He won because he seemed like he had principles, despicable as they were. There are democrats on the debate stage whose visions for this country is beautiful, but cowards like you hold them back. For Christ's sake, were on the right side of solving a global catastrophe and we still can't win elections thanks to your school of thinking. Step aside, and please don't forget your "conventional wisdom" as you leave. The so-called revolution is other nations' conventional wisdom, and it cannot be tabled another moment.
8
I am hoping you are kidding. About Gina Raimondo that is
There has been a persistent, under the radar push, From the Bloomberg camp? to foist Gina Raimondo on an unsuspecting nation. With a State Funded PR Machine @ her disposal, & a seemingly endless appetite for media appearances just beyond the borders of her dismal performance as Governor, she can be painted, as, well anything
In a State accustomed to failure, her performance is remarkable. DCYF, a State Agency dedicated to children, is in shambles. Several children have died, yes, died in the nearly 5 years of her administration. The most recent appointment fled to Arizona, just last week
Her heralded Commerce Corp is a laughingstock. A number of her favored "silver bullets", funded by an endless train of corporate cronyism, have outright failed. As in "Gone Out Of Business"
An initiative to bring all Health & Human Services systems under one digital roof has been a 9 figure flop. In her rush to garner headlines, Deloitte, under her toadies instructions, pulled the plug on legacy systems well before the new system was tested. The result? Thousands of Rhode Islanders in extreme weather over a protracted multiyear period, standing in a sort of New Age Digital Breadline, unable to access their benefits
She wages war on the States once ground breaking Medical Cannabis program, literally taxing the dying to profit from MMJ
And there is so much more
Mr. Friedman? Ask a Rhode Islander? PFord-Chair-Libertarian Party of RI
1
Maybe I should add that it is, most probably, enough when people do not vote for 'Ralph Nader'. Because the media explained that Hillary was sure to be the next president, she wasn't. Other, more green or more leftist contenders, should have voted for her too. In the forefront, this newspaper...
We are seeing just what America really feels.
3
Perhaps we could hire a competent president. Putin, Xi or Erdogan would do just fine.
1
There are so many errors and exaggerations in this article.
No Democrat talking about increasing the pie? Elizabeth Warren’s entire campaign is about this.
Immigrants need basic health care: their children need vaccinations to prevent spread of measles, whooping cough and adults to be productive workers.
Mr.Friedman has been wrong about many things: Hillary Clinton was a flawed candidate who lost states which Obama won easily and ?Sanders probably would win. (Also the Iraq war)
You seem to want a candidate who is indistinguishable from a Republican and this would definitely cause Trump to win again
5
He so speaks my mind.
2
Yes, yes. yes!! I agree with everything in this article. Well said, Mr. Friedman
3
REPOST: Please forgive my continued beating of this drum, but I've just learned that the author is seeking to raise money to "get out the vote..." Read on...
"...What billionaires with so much money ought to do is pool their resources and create a nationwide bi-partisan effort to encourage people to read, be informed and to get off their butts and VOTE.
Can you imagine what a virtual barrage of non-stop 18 month, creative, well thought out - even humorous - 15, 30 and 60 second adds to get our fellow citizens to mobilize around the 2020 elections would / could do?
With just a bit of imagination one can even envision a set of non-partisan town hall meetings chaired by the Gates, Buffets, Kochs of our world focused on the need for citizen involvement in our participatory democracy.
Dialogue engages and engagement brings discussion with at least a modicum of understanding. My bet is that an engaged nation is much more likely to correct the course our nation on which we've been sailing for the past 10~40 years..."
2
I had a Trump supporter tell me yesterday on a bench in the park that these are the end-times and that Trump is the Angel of Death sent here by G-d to lead the American people on a 40 year
stroll in the wilderness before G-d calls it a day.
All of which sounded plausible to me and a perfect complement to what Tom Friedman is saying here.
6
I'm so tired of the same ole Democrat mantra of giving entitlements away and to people (illegals) many who have not earned it. Btw how about Illegals respect our immigration process ,show up at court hearings ,and you'll maybe get some benefit. Is it so hard to tie a benefit to desired behavior? Anyway All the Democrats sound alike , they're just different in name only, and of course age :) Why cant the Democrats elect a patriot, who speaks of entrepreneurship, small business, etc? You never hear anything positive from Democrats on business, innovation , rewarding business for the investments they make daily. Why is this so hard to find a normal Democrat not looking to completely disrupt a health care system just because 10% is not covered, but 90% is, through employer, medicare, medicaid? Why? Where are the accomplished Democrats? I mean the ones accomplished in public and private service or one really good at one. Biden, sanders, been around forever and are average joes, Harris just a lawyer, never managed anything, barely any private work other than law, and doesnt impress, and got to AG by working a Mayor up in nepotism. 330 million Americans and not one good Democrat. Sad!
5
YES!
Pete Buttigieg is clear thinking, articulate, strategic and has a calm, non-reactive temperament that will contrast positively with the eye bulging, sputtering, orange ghoul. He is progressive yet moderate and I believe is our best chance.
6
Mr. Friedman: I seem to recall that the Democrats did nominate a centrist to run against Donald Trump in 2016. I just googled "2016 presidential election." Guess what? She lost. Seriously. You can look it up yourself if you don't believe me.
11
There's not a single candidate on the side of either party at the present time that I, nor any friend I've talked to, would get our vote. There was a t-shirt I bought years ago, that was a 'Bloom County' themed joke at the time, that is no longer such a joke. It said,"Don't blame me, I voted for Bill the cat and Opus the penguin!". Time to dig out that shirt and sharpen my pencil, as that's exactly my write in vote! The government's a joke, so why not? 2016 proved voting is unnecessary anyway! Look how Harris handed Bush Florida!
2
"many Americans are terrified and troubled by how bitterly divided, and therefore paralyzed, the country has become."
Really Mr. Friedman? Are those the same Americans that consistently ridicule and demean Trump Country residents on comments pages like this? Are *they* the ones that are "terrified and troubled?"
2
Just to be clear, you’re shocked that our leaders would *not* want to criminalize Manuel Gámez, who tried unsuccessfully to reunite with his daughter after she had been granted asylum? She committed suicide out of despair, as reported in your own newspaper. You pose as a voice of moderation, but you’re just carrying water for nativists. Grow a spine and stand up for what’s right, Mr. Friedman.
5
Mr. Friedman offered an additional idea on this subject in his July 17 interview on MSNBC: Every time Trump makes racist comments the Democrats should announce a telethon with a goal of raising money to be used to register more voters. No more resolutions. Vote him out.
4
Calm down, Tom! After the first joint news conference (that was not a "debate" by any stretch of that word) of a never-ending presidential election cycle where the general election is more than a year from now, nothing that is said during those joint news conferences should "shock" anyone who is not trying to generate buzz about their latest NYT column!
3
For all the commenters saying Friedman is out of touch with what many people want....I hope you can embrace some compromise to your views while Trump enjoys his next term in office.
1
Mr. Friedman,
I have never seen so many comments for an article.
That title is really designed to get us going and the number of responses here shows a high level of concern that we're doomed for another term but I don't think so.
I suspect this level of concern is not just NYT readers but is widespread and people are going to turn out en masse to get rid of a man they wouldn't even want at their dinner table.
4
Simple: The Derelict is a sympthom of a collapsing society. So is the democratic dessert.
And all becomes irrelevant facing the global warming planetary life extinction danger.
But, no.... we will continue in denial hoping for the best while witnessing the ravages of an anthropogenic climate change out of control.
So sad ....
2
Authentic American Heroes DO Exist Today . . . Thank You to Mr. Thomas L. Friedman and Say Hello and Welcome to Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo!
2
Somebody in the know: please forward Tom's warnings to the Squad and Democratic Presidential candidates!
2
Please. I haven't even read the column yet. Just the headline.
And it terrifies me.
No! We cannot reelect Donald Trump!! Another four years of
this monster will destroy the country!! We must do everything
we can to avoid his regaining the White House in 2020--from which we may never be able to eject him!
2
Yes! A million times yes!
2
The pundits who told us that Hillary Clinton was certain to win are the same ones who are telling us that the more progressive Democratic candidates can't win. They are out of touch with the lives of middle and working class Americans. They may be happy with their health insurance and their 401K's, but a lot of Americans are not satisfied with their high deductibles and premiums and most don't own stock.
This election will be decided like most are decided--by turnout. Give young people, minorities, poor people a candidate to get excited about and they'll turn out and Trump will lose.
7
My liberal jaw dropped and I felt uncharacteristically conservative rage at the proposal of open borders and, most gallingly, free healthcare for people here illegally. Some of my best friends are illegal and my husband is an immigrant. But I pay $1,250 a month for a cruddy Obamacare plan because my income is too high for a subsidy. I had Medicaid in between jobs and it was fantastic, comprehensive, and FREE. Lifelong taxpaying residents deserve that affordable, comprehensive care first — along with better-funded schools (bring back art, music, foreign language!) before we divert resources to ESL/remedial programs (as detailed in another recent NYT article about the urgent needs for such programs in migrant-heavy communities). If this is my reaction...God help us Democrats in 2020.
12
Its amazing to me that after the centrist par excellence, Hillary Clinton, lost to Trump, the best that the Times punditocracy can do is recommend more centrism.
Democrats, after following Republicans right for more than a generation, need to move left.
What that means is a bit up for grabs (liberal immigration laws have not been a traditional feature of the left, for example), but certainly in economics, trickle down, cut taxes on the rich policies needs to end. Our massive and wasteful military needs to be cut down. Universal health care, somehow. We need to get serious about climate change. And we need government programs that help rebuild the middle class.
And for goodness sakes, get rid of means testing for government programs- there is nothing that undermines support for a program more than telling people “Yes, you have to pay for it, but you don’t get the benefit.”
9
Change is often disruptive, usually unpredictable but in the final equation always successful in that things always change. Neither the tantrum by the non critical thinkers nor the intellectually flacid response from the traditional left will determine what eventually takes place but they will be parties to it.
2
Sooner or later someone supporting the Democrats will see in a flash the reason for all this. Trump was - is- a creation of the Democrats, the outpouring of the disgust of the American people with decades of arrogant do-gooders being manipulated by money. War as an engine of profit, middle-class poverty while the super-rich thrive, corruption parading as virtue; none of these things were Trump's creation - they were what he inherited. Until they walk up to this the Democrats will stay in their noisy and unlovely wilderness.
6
@Joss Wynne Evans Trump: Corruption parading as Corruption.
1
Friedman is dead on.
Trump is an enabler of people’s fears, typically economic, which then turn to xenophobia for a solution. Without exception, every well-educated Trump supporter I know expresses these sentiments.
A challenger to Trump’s rotted vision must inspire voters to believe that diversity will give them personal benefits both economically and socially. Then they must have a believable plan to execute that vision. That is the candidate who can salvage the American dream from Trump’s dystopia.
Of course, that’s only if we do it fast enough to survive climate change.
5
One writer referred to Trump voters as "These people." Trump supporters are wrong about a lot of issues. But they're not some mob of ignorant bigots.
Many are Americans who grew up in a culture that, in many ways, primed them to be vulnerable to a candidate like Donald Trump. They made the mistake of succumbing to that vulnerability. But, as individuals, they're neither stupid or hateful. They're people-- just like Democrats.
If we want their votes they need to be: 1) Recognized; 2) Respected, and; 3) Actually listened to. That doesn't mean we have to capitulate to them. It does mean that we must extend to them the same respect we desire (if not demand) for ourselves.
5
I would have agreed with you until last night’s rally.....
3
I couldn't agree more. Pragmatism, pragmatism, pragmatism. Let's get this corrupt and heinous administration behind us and start moving in the right direction again. Change will come but only if we can change this terrible course.
5
I recall George Wallace and his run for president in 1968. I knew a lot of people who voted for him, but thank goodness, not enough for him to win the election. It seemed crystal clear, 51 years ago, the majority of Americans did not want a racist to be president.
What the heck happened in those 51 years in which the tone, the timbre and the attitude is more aligned with the thinking and mindset of Wallace today than back then? How and why did this thinking evolve into the present scary reality? Is seems apparent that more folks find a comfort level in hate and intolerance only to be led by a president who is continuing to lead that charge.
This gradual yet consistent paradigm shift makes me want to dig my heels deep into the ground and fight harder than ever to get more people on the Democratic side of the equation. Register voters for the Democratic party is a key answer to help remedy this insanity.
If my parents were alive today, everything that is currently going on in this country might cause them to have serious health issues for they would be horrified by Trump and his base.
I find it deeply troubling to be glad my parents aren't alive today just so they could be spared of this current craziness.
4
I recall, not at all fondly, George Wallace and his bid to run for president in 1968. I knew a lot of people voted for him, but not nearly enough in which he won the election. If he had ran as a Democrat rather than a third party independent, I doubt the outcome would have been any different. It seemed crystal clear, 51 years ago, the majority of Americans did not want a racist to be president.
What the heck happened in those 51 years in which the tone, the timbre and the attitude is more aligned with the thinking and mindset of Wallace today than back then?
How and why did this thinking change and become a scary reality? The fact that more folks seem to find a comfort level in hate and intolerance only to be led by a president who is continuing to lead that charge makes me want to dig my heels deep into the ground and fight harder than ever to get more people on the Democratic side of the equation. Register voters for the Democratic party is a key answer to help remedy this insanity.
All I know is if my parents were alive today, everything that is currently going on in this country would cause them to have a stroke. They would be horrified by Trump and his base.
2
There are three issues in this election:
1. The economy(and the unfairness of rich getting richer and the rest of us barely holding our heads above water).
2. Global Warming and doing something to slow it down.
3. BEATING TRUMP!!(And reversing the bad law he is implementing and will continue to implement if we don't beat him.)
At this point, everything else is a distraction to confuse the voters. This is not the time for "revolution" or emphasis on other divisive issues. It is time to appeal to the common sense of the American Majority sick at heart.
--From rural America, where a lot of Trump voters really do finally see the Emperor has no clothes because they aren't stupid.
But they also know that Washington politicians for the most part are focused on their own agendas to achieve power and don't really care about the rest of us. So there is a reason they don't trust them. Hilary sold her soul for money and power. (Bernie was my candidate last time, not sure about his age now.)
3
@calannie I couldn't agree more. The most frightening thing about this election cycle is how seldom we hear the words 'climate change' uttered. We have about 15 years to do something about this crisis or we are ALL going to feel extremely uncomfortable for about half the year (not to mention the massive immigration that will result, making the current scenes on TV look like child's play). And that doesn't even factor in the havoc it's going to cause with every other living thing, from bees to elephants. Trump is still the greatest obstacle to fighting climate change. The USA under his leadership is the ONLY country on the planet that hasn't subscribed to the Paris Climate Accord. This alone should be giving Americans nightmares and yet it simply isn't. Baffling!
3
What I find shocking is that a desire to get rid of private insurance isn't universal. As far as I'm concerned, private health insurance is a scam: legalized theft. Its corporate CEOs make tens of millions of dollars annually while gouging subscribers and reaping the profits that come not from paying for needed medical services but by denying them. These people are parasites. Not only should private insurance be eliminated but all of the corporate pay (except for, say, $80K per year) of all its CEOs and upper management from the past 20 years clawed back and put into a public fund to pay for healthcare. And these oligarchs who have profited from the suffering, misery and death of others should be put in prison. That's my radical opinion. Merely getting rid of such an intrinsically corrupt system is hardly radical, though. I would no sooner vote for someone who supports the status quo (private, for-profit health insurance) than I would for someone who supports organized crime.
10
"Fool me twice, shame on me." That's why I believe Trump will lose. There are more decent, lucid and smart people than not -- at least, they can be that way in a pinch. And they won't be fooled again.
1
Common sense seems a rare commodity in our polarized country. I'm glad to read an article that appeals to that rare way of thinking. I would add one more thing to the logic of this article, that the democrats must stay unified. Fortunately the split that was developing between the moderates & the "Squad" has been quelled by idiotic racist tweets by Trump and Nancy Pelosi's strong support of her colleagues in the face of Trumps attack.
2
Tom Friedman says that the revolution can wait. To paraphrase the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: "the word wait almost always means never."
3
That decent guy you ask for IS Joe Biden.
Of course, with the Democrats now aiding the GOP is taking apart the ACA,
with both the House progressives and the House blue dogs mad at Pelosi,
with Trump turning racism into an electoral ASSET (!!),
with the Democrats totally unable to develop a counter narrative to make racism an electoral liability (!!),
I don't think Trump even needs the "pull to the left" ideas of the presidential candidates.
Pelosi is doing a good enough job wrecking 2020 all by herself.
After all, she wrecked 2010, and that is when Democrats controlled the Senate and the WH.
2
I agree with George Fisher. And, as demonstrated by the metro-centric critics of his experience, the fear of coastal socialists using their populations like a vice to squeeze and suffocate rural/middle Americans is still in play.
My children have had substantial wage and opportunity increases since the coarse businessman was elected to look out for the middle class. I liken Trump to Gen. George Patton; a tough as nails leader with a plan to save America from the intolerance of urban group think.
Hate feeds evil. And the hate displayed by urban contempt for the rest of us is tangible. Every vile epithet slung at rural Americans creates another vote for Trump.
2
I agree that Democrats need to focus on the fundamentals (jobs, infrastructure, border security) to win against "the occupant". We also need someone who will respectfully, effectively and deeply push back on "the occupant's" tactics. I also am SO HORRIFIED by the demonization of Trump supporters. Everyone who supports Trump is not a racist, stupid, or hateful. It is likely many supporters are superficial one issue voters...pocketbook (jobs, deregulation, lower taxes), guns, or abortion, for example. They turn a blind eye to his destructive bullying policies and complete lack of morality or true leadership. Remember "the occupant" was a TV superstar on The Apprentice. Too many Americans are still watching a TV performance and completely disregarding the future he, and his corrupt administration, are leaving behind. We need a MODERATE, progressive Dem with star power, intelligence, focus, clarity and humor who can take down imbecile "occupant". We need to call 'the occupant's" bluff...Democrats are not all flaming liberals who want open borders and free everything. Let's not allow "the occupant" to define what we stand for.
3
Demonizing of Trump supporters? Please tell me ONE positive about a group of people that supports misogyny, allows a Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, children in cages, supports openly displayed racism, denial of climate change, etc etc. there is only one word Dir them and that is deplorable.
1
Sometimes I wonder if the Democratic strategy is to run an unelectable candidate who distracts the media and the population while Democrats sneak up and take the Senate.
A Democratic President will be absolutely worthless if the Senate stays red. No judges appointed, no cabinet members confirmed, no laws passed, and a budget crisis every three months until we go into default and our credit rating goes down the toilet. Impeachment is a real possibility as well.
If Trump wins and Democrats take the senate, Trump still be around to take the blame when the next recession starts. America will finally become tired of him, as they become tired of every president after 5-6 years. He will be toothless and neutered, spending his whole second term in court while he tries to rule through meaningless executive decrees issued via twitter. Trump will be disgraced, and the Republican sharks in Congress will turn on him the second they smell blood in the water. The next Democratic president will have a mandate and the political power to enforce it, something Trump never had even when his own party held both houses of Congress.
3
Friedman is a positive force in the Democratic Party, and should consider running for President.
His thoughtful, informed insights have tremendous, positive impact that could initiate the positive change necessary to save America
Time for Democratic Party to embrace Friedman’s brilliant ideas for a major campaign to immediately launch fund raising efforts to fight
MAD trump’s toxic, unAmerican racism with positive steps to rally humane, honorable Americans to donate generously to oppose
the hate put forth by Republicans’ racism and bigotry.
And, time to embrace Tom Friedman. as our brilliant Presidential candidate, with innovative, insightful and humane democratic
ideals that will result in the necessary democratic Presidential victory to decimate the devil trump and his hateful, corrupt Republican Party.
2
I'm a fan of Warren's policies and she is focused on economic issues. But, why can't this be a campaign about values? Trump has many character flaws, but my one question to every citizen: Will you vote for a rapist to be your president?
2
Your cynicism Mr. Friedman is precisely what the republicans and Putin are hoping for. Just like last time, have all the democrats stabbing each other in the back while the trumpists laugh all the way to the reins of power. What you appear to have forgotten is that: 1) it is still far too early in this race to come to any serious conclusions; and 2) the real legal fight over trump's taxes, his obstruction of justice, his collusion with Russia and his inevitable impeachment (Nancy Pelosi is no fool, she will use this remedy in a way so as to make Mitch McConnell irrelevant) hasn't even gotten past first base yet. The democrats will win in 2020 and the only real question is how big will be the victory.
2
Mr. Friedman: Great column and great comments. I agree with you 100%. Democrats tend to be so passionate about policy and ideas that they are ignorant about how their message is received and processed by millions of Americans who are open-minded but perhaps less engaged than them. I shudder every time Bernie uses the word "FREE". Nothing is Free and the hardworking people of America are well aware of that--so when everyone the debate stage supports free medical and education for undocumented immigrants our own citizens feel abandoned by the Democratic party. Nuanced policy ideas can't be debated in 30 second sound bites. Specific policy details have nothing to do with electoral victory. These things are debated after the victory. The candidate that adopts your advice will win this election. And yes, the money that the Democrats want to spend comes from the fruits of capitalism--so increasing the pie should very much be on the table.
4
Hate to tell you, Mr. Friedman, but with today's economy and unemployment as low as it is, the disparity between the rich and poor is beginning to close. Incomes are rising for the lower income workers and they are more and more satisfied with their work environments and their lives. The rich are ever more generous in their giving to charitable causes. This has happened under the "jerk" Trump and we hope it continues.
282
@George Fisher Hate to tell you, but wage increases are still running well behind inflation, and the vast majority of workers are still economically insecure.
Charitable contributions are in fact down since the tax code was changed.
The tax cuts have been used to buy back stock which is owned (Surprise) largely by the 1 percent, and not reinvested in workers.
493
@George Fisher
Where are you living and what are you doing for a job? My employer is cutting to the bare bones and I work in the medical field. I have not seen a substantial wage or benefit increase. And please don't tell me to look for a new job. I have specialized skills, but I am at the age where getting hired is nearly impossible.
468
@George Fisher
Trump has been president a little over two years, and any good in this economy is more a tribute to Obama than Trump. Unemployment down? Of course, but it was going down steadily under O, and the trend simply continued. So how is this T's accomplishment? You could have put Fred Flintsone in the pres. chair and garnered the same result. (Wait, we did elect Flintsone.) Trump simply inherited this trend.
Incomes up? Of course, but income was steadily rising under O. So how is this T's accomplishment? Again, he just inherited the trend.
Timing is everything.
227
"Just nominate a decent, sane person, one committed to reunifying the country and creating more good jobs, a person who can gain the support of the independents, moderate Republicans and suburban women who abandoned Donald Trump in the midterms."
Didn't we try that already? Didn't that result in Trump getting elected in the first place?
As to "the suburban women of the mid terms," clearly they didn't like their Republican congressional reps, but whose to say they stopped liking Trump? He's a different animal than vanilla GOPers.
2
I agree that the too far to the left democrats will help Trump get re-elected. They are doing something very similar to what Trump is doing: manipulating their constituents and promising a "Chicken in Every Pot". We are not in a time of national emergency and yet we are approaching a One Trillion dollar annual deficits. The low unemployment rate is not as good as it sounds by itself. Regarding, free college, who is going to pay for it and why would free college be a good? Numerous third world countries have super funded white collar education jobs only to face a shortage of trained blue collar workers and false expectations. Education should be affordable and directed toward the real world. Regarding free medical, who is going to pay for it and why would this be a good? It should be affordable not free. Regarding the southern border, the word border means just that a BORDER. People cannot just walk in. The issue we face with our southern border is identical to what has happened in Europe. Regarding fake news, yes we have fake news, but we have it on both sides. Yes, the far right fake news is worse, but the left has its fake news also.
Michelle Obama coined the phrase " when they go low, we go high". Let's practice that. Without correction, the far left political proposals will get Donald Trump elected again.
6
If you listen the democrats are talking a lot about jobs, just not the traditional jobs. They want to work on 2 problems at a time, bring in the green economy to fight climate change and make the green jobs good jobs.
Every state has low unemployment stats right now what kind of jobs are they getting? Is climate change getting worse? Is a good education out of the reach of most people? Are trump and devos's charter schools helping? The answer is no, they are just consuming resources and putting people in debt.
If you listen, the democrats are addressing the issues.
5
I refuse to believe that the good people of this country will allow Trump to be reelected after all we have seen and heard from him these past years. His politics of hate and division have no place in the founding principles we have strived to uphold for 243 years.
Trump has never had an approval above 45%, has not attempted to broaden his base and alienates more people every day. While he may have 90% support of republicans, that is a shrinking number and accounts for roughly 25 - 30% of voters. If Democrats can bring out even a million more voters than 2016 in states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, Trump is toast.
Get out the vote in 2020 and vote Blue. Republicans will not save this country and our democracy.
4
I’ve been a life long democrat but they are getting too far left. I look forward to @realDonaldTrump & the #squad going away ASAP. Enough drama! I want a centrist government
5
Americans like to think about themselves as exceptional people from the greatest country in the world. They should start traveling more and while in college, try to spend a few months abroad as international exchange students. They may find out what makes America so exceptional in the first world. Corporatism, plutocracy, exorbitant cost of education and healthcare, awful housing, millions living in poverty,millions enslaved to their employers, no paid parental leave, no paid vacation (do not confuse with employer offered benefits), no quality affordable childcare, no modern public transportation. Americans confuse guns with freedom and spend trillions on military and endless wars destroying lives at homes and elsewhere, for which they tax their citizens living abroad with no income at home (unique in the world). By choosing such exceptionalism, they allow to be brain washed into great insecurity, obsessing entire lives not to pay for the common good of fellow citizens. I believe that while there are many truly wonderful Americans, it is a cruel country with its religious people wrapped in the flag believing in their superiority and goodness. I embrace ideas of the "leftist" Democratic candidates! They are nothing new or extreme elsewhere in the modern world. I am tired of old white men's elites controlling lives and wielding power over so many people. I am in my 60's and want young people to take over. And please don't tell me to leave if I don't like it. I already have.
14
There are pluses and minuses, pros and cons, about living in any country. Sweden is dark and cold most of the year. Huge minus. The other benefits, at the moment, are wonderful but Sweden's system is young and with the influx of immigrants things could and probably will, change. And not for the better. We thought about leaving the U.S. but after careful consideration, realized there are no guarantees. The next country offers no guarantees that things won't change. For the worse.
1
We should all start seriously considering that Trump is crazy like a fox. With 20-odd Democratic candidates for President forgotten in the dust, he has successfully turned four congressional freshman into the face of the Democratic party. And with that he’s effectively whipped up the fear factor akin to the 1950s slogan ‘better dead than red’. It’s all worked so quickly: My facebook pages have become filled with socialism scare ‘shares’ from Trump supporters. The only educational outcome of life with Trump is I’ve now learned the political leanings of people I’ve known for years.
9
All I can say Thomas is your article in my humble opinion is perfect! You make solid points and give evidence to back them up. For me one of the most significant points was this idea that not all elections are alike.
Totally agree that all the candidates raising their hands saying they would offer health care for illegal migrants is just giving red meat to Fox News and others like Laura Ingraham who not only leans so far right but does it with a sort of angry panache if I can say that. We need to be way way smarter because as vile as Trump is, while he may be very ignorant, he knows how to play the game, and that seems to be our biggest challenge.
8
It was stunning watching the aftermath of debate coverage. They said that Julián Castro did very well. Really! The man advocated for decriminalizing people who illegally cross the bother and changing American law to achieve that goal. What planet do this people come from? The people supporting that idea are beyond clueless. You are not winning any election with that kind of policy. We should be compassionate and take some set number of refugees but you cannot let the population of South American Continent be emptied into United States. If you want to beat Mr. Trump, please stay away from open bother policy.
11
This fantastic op-ed perfectly encapsulates my views on the upcoming elections. It also serves as a warning shot to Joe Biden the only reasonable choice in the Democratic field. Next time they ask a question at one of the debates first look around and if you see all the socialist raise their hands in unison keep your down.
9
People tend to forget that Socialism is a relatively new political system. And it has failed in many countries. No guarantees.
2
In the fall of 2016, as a disappointed Bernie supporter hoping for the best for Hillary, I asked my Hillary-supporting friends if she had polling data that showed she could afford to anger every working class man west of Philadelphia.
Democrats need to understand that the vast majority of rural gun rights men are not religious right-wingers. They are libertarian and they believe in a right to insurrection, rooted in their interpretation of the American Revolution. Urban democrats simply will not get their votes if they don't respect that.
Next, and related, Democrats are not trusted to use force to protect order at home and abroad. (Even though Obama carried out too many drone-killings for my tastes.) Democrats often use military force but they don't articulate a view of the necessity of force. Thus, they seem weak and stupid to people who know better.
Next, and related, Democrats cannot seem to understand that protecting borders is not racist. A nation-state needs to be able to control its borders. This is where a new terminology is needed, and new policy.
The southern border crisis is a refugee crisis rooted in the long-term effects of the "war on drugs" that the panel led by George Schultz told us to end 30 years ago.
We need to end the war on drugs, rebuild order and state legality and authority in Latin America, and then accept that legalization of drugs reduces harm.
There is a way forward for Democrats, but the current "media correctness" is not that way
6
I've been a Dem activist in Ohio for a long time, I have checked them all out and I sent my money to Joe today. He wins Ohio and the rest of them don't. Trust me on this, there's no one else in the Midwest.
Mayor Pete may be next, but it is too soon for him - too inexperienced, too young, too many people still put off by his lifestyle. As the old generation leaves us, his time will come. Get a higher office, Pete, and we will see you in 24 or 28. Can't wait to vote for you!
10
It makes me sick to read all of the comments and to realize that most of the commentators did not listen to Friedman. Everybody loses, progressives, moderates, conservatives, evangelicals, even white supremacists, and skinheads if Trump wins. I live in Texas,. I am 87 years old . I was born and grew up in a small town West Texas town, got an education, became a medical researcher and have had a good life. My politics have become progressively more liberal, but It appalls me to read these comments. I classify myself as a progressive and agree with almost all of the ideas of Bernie, Warren etc, but the people who wear progressive on their labels, cannot win the farm country and, the rust belt unless we convince them we value THEIR IDEAS and care about THEM. The PROGRESSIVES want a revolution (AND WE NEED ONE) BUT a revolution cannot occur unless we beat Trump, win 60 senate seats and a big majority in the house. In a democracy, we cannot have a revolution unless we begin by beating Trump. Progressives, moderates, conservative republicans who can't stomach Trumps racism and divisiveness must begin by kicking him out. Just reread what Friedman says. He is RIGHT, JUST LISTEN TO HIM. REREAD THE COLUMN OVER & OVER. A small town Texas boy, who can read!!!
22
@Bobby J. Stinebaugh, MD Well said! We cannot afford to win a battle but lose a war. Then we all lose! Be strategic. Don't think only within your own mind. You are not the only voter. Think the mind of the collective voters and elect someone who can win the war to trump!
3
@jnl I could not agree more. I hope that there are a bunch of people out there like you. We could certainly use some more "never Trump" people out in the Texas boonies.
2
I have to question Friedman's premise here; namely that "many Americans are ... troubled by how ... divided, and therefore paralyzed, the country has become" and that "There is an opening for a unifier." Trump and the Republicans are delighted that the country is this divided and paralysis is exactly what they want. Friedman must have forgotten that when Mitch McConnell blocked Obama's appointment to the SCOTUS - the paradigm of partisan paralysis - McConnell described that as his "proudest" moment as a legislator. The premise that there are people of equally good will on both sides of the political divide is as false as Trump's claim about the demonstrators in Charlottesville. Friedman seems to think that a candidate who can be a "unifier" can win. That means a candidate who can find common ground between Trump supporters and the rest of the nation. So, where exactly does Friedman think the common ground is between those who support democracy and those who are fundamentally opposed to democracy? Between those who recognize climate change to be the existential threat that it is, and those who believe the lies that it is a hoax? Between those who think that sexual assault and attempted sexual assault should be criminally punished and those who think that it's perfectly okay for wealthy, powerful white men to commit sexual assault provided they support the Republican Party? Between those who support abortion rights and those who want to turn this nation into Gilead?
5
@David There are many voters like me, an independent, and moderate Republicans, are looking for a "unifier". These voters are more than enough to tilt the election. Trump terrify us but the far left scare us away. We are desperately looking for a "unifier", exactly what Friedman said.
6
i do not doubt that he will get re elected. as a Democrat i see the party being chipped away and don't care for the direction its going in. as for those in the running... I'm not sure who I'd back alrhough it wouldn't be biden.
Cindy. If Biden is all we have, we have to back him. A functioning adult. ANY functioning adult.
1
I agree with much of Friedman's opinions in this piece, but he is wrong on Medicare for all. Universal heath care at a reasonable cost as a citizen's right is an ethical and economic necessity. The problem is that the progressive Democrats who champion it were either lazy or incompetent to figure out how to articulate its definite financial advantages for an average American in simple easy to understand terms. Unless they are able and willing to do that they should give it up, because it will become a stone around their necks.
Heath care is not a "universal right". The concept is relatively new and it is FAILING in most of the countries where it is policy. I know, I've lived in a few of them. We want motivated doctors, not bureaucrats. Who will want to attend medical school and pay the tuition if they won't be rewarded? Our system needs to be reworked from the ground up. Hospital administrators and big pharma need to be first on the list. There ARE fixes, but universal health care is not one of them.
2
Open borders stances, or virtual equivalents, may well be the iceberg for the Democrat's Titanic 2020 edition, and it doesn't seem the Democratic establishment really gets how lethal it can be to try to let the GOP sink in its own mire on that one.
One doesn't have to embrace Trumpkin tropes on immigration to realize how opening up our immigration in 1965 harmed African-Americans entering the tail end of the job market with a fuller array legal protections; capital got a flood of supply of cheap labor to effectively dilute the potential economic benefit to African-Americans.
5
I'm ready to take the advice of one of the smartest people in the room. Thanks, Mr. Friedman. My neighborhood Indivisible group will become more laser-focused on registering voters. We did it in 2018 and we'll do it again before the next election. We called, we walked door-to-door, we set up our booths and registered voters every weekend, we sent massive amounts of postcards around the country. We'll do it again.
We do it for our grandchildren.
11
@Nancie Thank you so much!! I'm a Chinese immigrant. I was so surprisingly upset to see a news about a "Chinese for Trump" group in my neighboring state, Pennsylvania, right after 2016 election. I'm an independent, but most Chinese Americans support democratic party. I then determined to go to the swing state when 2020 election is near and bring out Chinese to vote for democratic party. You inspire and reaffirm my vow then. We all need to work collectively and urgently anyway we can to protect the democracy and uphold the core values that trump viciously attacks everyday.
Same mind here, I'm looking at a picture that I took on the Women's March with a lovely girl scout holding a sign: "MARCHING for my DAUGHTERS".
2
To answer your question: Yes, Trump is going to get re-elected. The Democratic Party self-destructed when it proposed ("raise your hand...") to give health care to undocumented immigrants. Trump has some years of a great economy on his watch, and his abrasive personality appeals to people (to the darkest part of their souls, but even Democrats have a dark spot...) Centrist Democrats get to choose between health care for the undocumented and their own 401K plans? Swing voters, who basically vote with their wallets, will certainly find this an easy choice. Message to the Democratic Party: You've got some terrible ideas. Please, I beg you, don't make me vote for Trump.
10
What exactly is the great economy you are talking about? May i remind you of the government shut down and the fact that a very large proportion of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, cannot afford any substantial savings and that medical expenses are the no 1 reason for bankruptcy even for the more affluent? Raising children is another good one but hey, the rapist in charge and his supporters will simply not contribute. What a fantastic economy.
1
@CH
Our Great Economy is the one in which the rich are getting fantastically richer. Most Americans mistakenly equate a high Dow Jones average with a great economy, and don't understand that it's simply a measure of how the wealthy are doing. But it's better than a crashing stock market. And if you vote with your wallet, it looks better than paying for the health care of undocumented immigrants. I agree with you that it actually isn't all that great, actually it's terrible if you aren't a member of the Investor Class, but it appears good enough to get Trump re-elected.
1
Oh hear we go again with blaming the left for paving the way for Trump’s reelection. Mr. Friedman, if you and all the other centrists think that voting a moderate Democrat will unify this country you need only look at Obama’s presidency and know how that will turn out. May I remind you that under centrist Democrats we got compromises and resistance to busing, more deportations (Obama) than any previous President, a crime bill that has resulted in a nation that imprisons more of its racial and ethnic minorities than any nation on earth, Growing income inequality and a precipitous decline in union strength, an ACA, that arguably was a step in the right direction, but still has my son paying $400/month with a $7,000 deductible, massive student debt, and some of us, particularly black people like myself, still trying to recover from the Great Recession that saw the single largest drop in wealth for black people in the history of this nation. Excuse me for not buying the argument that all we need to do is defeat Trump. Defeating Trump will not end the rise of virulent white nationalism and white supremacy in this country, bring justice for Eric Garner’s family or end many of the other serious issues that confront us. I’ll consider a moderate candidate when one offers a clear and sustainable vision for confronting the issues that plague us rather than fear tactics of another four years of Trump and a false hope of unifying these yet to be United States.
13
Avoiding 4 more years of Trump has nothing to do with swaying his base. That is impossible. It's about swaying (uniting) the millions of sensible decent moderate voters (Democrat, Republican, Independents) who dislike Trump but don't understand the radical left. These are the people who decide elections. Ordinary people.
We are already at war.. now is the time to unify. Not start another war within our party.
Now it's triage to stop the Trump bleeding of decency and democracy.
In 2020 after we have united OUR base and won the election we can debate the path forward.
7
In actual office, there wouldn’t be much difference between moderate and more left Presidents, since Congress is the entity that makes things happen. If Congress decided to fund infrastructure upgrades all over the country, a far left President would have to sign the bills and put health coverage for illegal immigrants and free college on the back, back burner. But people seem to think that if someone gets elected, their entire platform will be magically implemented. Nevertheless, the voters at the center margin are the ones who need to be captured.
7
I have a friend who is a big Trump supporter (also a very generous fellow who has funded many college scholarships). He is giddy with delight when AOC or Omar open their mouths and with the ultra left Democratic debate proposals. He loves to taunt me with their proposals and with their desire to purge middle of the roaders, like me, from their ranks. Tom may be correct.
9
Just to add my voice as a lifelong liberal to the chorus: the Democratic left seems heavily invested in being "the party of ideas." And some of their ideas may have merit, making them worthy of consideration. Someday. But it's worth recognizing that the Republican Party has managed to come close to a quiet coup that will effectively bring the United States of the 20th century to an end, and all without having any ideas at all, other than rewarding their wealthy benefactors. Democrats gotta win before and in order to change things. And to win decisively, they gotta energize voters and pull independents, the center of the party and some of the leftish fringe of the Republican Party. Radical ideas, incessant sniping and the constant appeal to individual constituencies and interest groups aren't going to do it. Democrats: Your constituency is the country and your cause should be its survival.
8
I am a long-time Democrat, and when I look at this year's primary field, my eyes glaze over-- not the response we need at a moment like this. The Democrats need to come up with a solution to this tidal wave: Instead of proposing a candidate, why not do something unconventional! Propose an administration based on the strengths of the most qualified and supported candidates to be negotiated in a DNC pow-wow? Obviously, this would require people setting aside their presidential egos, but wouldn't that be worth it for a win-- and it could help build the political portfolios at a national level. Not only that, but an "administration" could provide a larger vision of what could happen as we rebuild our nation from this profound attack on democracy.
3
I too totally agree with being shocked by many of the comments from the candidates. What about providing training for the unemployed searching for “real” jobs, medical care for our veterans, subsidized meals for hungry children? Once we have satisfied these needs, we should consider providing medical benefits for undocumented immigrants - but not before.
I too believe that Trump will win again if these candidates pursue some of the outlandish ideas mentioned in the article. We need to stop Trump as four more years of his destruction of steps taken to protect the environment will almost guarantee our world will suffer from irreversible climate change.
From my perspective as a grandmother, I cringe at the thought that my grandchildren will have to live in a world that we created but could have avoided with sane steps taken to mitigate global warming.
8
Paul is right about growing the pie through public spending that enriches the soil so businesses can thrive. He's also right about making sure everyone gets a shot at a slice, and that their slices survive the ups and downs of the business cycle as least as well as rich people's do. But Paul doesn't mention that prior generations accomplished this because they weren't spending a third of the budget on debt interest. GDP can't grow faster when our working/spending population is shrinking and debt grows even in good times. All solutions require decades of unpalatable budget surpluses, which means both higher taxes and less spending.
7
Why is this idea so hard for people and candidates to understand when it is so logical? I despair at the thought of four more years of Trump.
7
I agree with Mr. Friedman's analysis of what the Democrats need to do. Unfortunately, he is a moderate and a lone voice in the wilderness. The Democrats leftist platform is what gave us Trump in the first place. And he is correct, Trump is going to be re-elected.
4
No reason to be alarmist. If people stay on topic by sticking to policies and scotus he will be be defeated. Events of recent days intended to draw attention away from his many short-comings.
2
Gina was probably not the right person to highlight, considering Rhode Island was just ranked 50 th to do business. Also the comments miss the point about why a moderate is necessary. The left's darling Warren has zero chance of attracting the minority vote, and zero chance of swaying the old blue collar Midwestern who switched to Trump. These were the two huge factors in '16. That's why Biden is a slam dunk. I also think Harris is second because she's left of Biden but way more moderate than Warren/Sanders. I think this is really simple... Biden and or Harris steamroll Trump in the general. Warren loses in landslide (electorally) and Sanders is probably a stay up late on election night to lose narrowly candidate. Mayor Pete is not electable given the sheer number of religious blacks and Hispanics that would disapprove and stay home. And I think he's not strong in his own state on race either. This is why there's a sense Trump is going to win. Because the Democrats want to nominate Warren so badly they just can't help themselves...
3
Totally agree and I'm scared. So much at stake and none of the current candidates can beat Trump. We need someone like Mark Cuban to step up, otherwise Trump will get to replace RBG and do so much more damage.
2
The fact of the matter is that it’s very hard to unseat an incumbent. It rarely happens. Since 1932, it’s only happened once; you can consider the LBJ presidency as a continuation of JFK’s. Secondly, instead of coalescing around one candidate and thinking of the nation, the candidates show us it’s all about ambition. You’d think it wasn’t the case but none of them are equipped to take on Trump; 2016 will look like a party compared to what’s going to take place in the campaign.
10
@Brad Jimmy Carter lost in 1980, and George H.W. Bush lost in 1992.
1
Brilliant analogy by Friedman. I would even add that the Democrats should be more careful and sparing using the word 'social' as in America it's equated with socialism, something the American public is allergic to the latter, but they tend to mix the two, while in Europe, the very concept of' social' it has nothing to do with socialism. Social means basic rights: affordable education. affordable healthcare, affordable housing, job training etc.. illegal and undocumented people don't automatically get free access to all these services.
5
The water is boiling right now (or pretty much all the time under the Reality TV Chef), but I hope the majority of Americans have decided that they want a competent, maybe even boring president who will deliver on the immediate things we need and begin to tackle larger problems through legislation instead of executive order, stacking the courts, gerrymandering, lying, courting noxious foreign powers, and vote rigging. I'd like a president who can use facts to defend their policies, real facts, not spur of the moment invented lies. I'd like a lot less drama, and more competence. I'm betting that there a lot of Americans who agree with me.
5
You’re actually helping Trump by encouraging moderate Dems and swing voters to sit out this election in protest if your candidate loses the nomination. Please check out Indivisible’s unity pledge and consider using your sizable platform to unite, not divide.
7
Democrats have no plan, no stragedy in the way the Republicans did when President Obama was elected. Democratic plan appears to be to react to every tweet of Preseident Trump. Democratic plan appears to be to embarass President Trump about his lifestyle and Friends. Democrats are trying to beat a Reality TV star at his own game.
Meanwhile Democrats never push their message over and over again or even react in a strategic way. President Trump had promised great and cheap Healthcare in 2016. Where is it? President Trump promised great Infrastructure Projects, where are they? They say the best Defense is a good offense. The Democrats do not have one, instead President Trump defines the message of the Democrats as they react to everything he says. President Trump has a re-election plan, Democrats do not.
20
Why not take a chance with Bernie? We listened to Obama and we still stayed on the road of inequality.
We thought Hillary was the answer, the speeches to the banks were probably great, they made her wealthy and we never heard them.
Bernie took Amazon on and won. I am talking to the center left that are trying to get by, there are many of us.
Really, how much difference could it make?
The difference is we might win.
4
Fifty five years ago in Political Science 101 I learned that the purpose of political parties is to win elections. That still seems like a pretty good rule to live by. So, Democrats, how about giving it a try?
18
Tom, Please take a close look at Tulsi Gabbard and consider shining some of your spotlight on her. She is the level-headed sensible moderate democratic candidate who would easily defeat Trump in a general election, but she is not receiving establishment support because she speaks out strongly against the neocon/neolib regime change wars and the profit-driven motivations of military industrial complex which dictates too much of our foreign policy. Tulsi favors of a world where America focuses on sustainable energy and peaceful diplomacy. She is by far the most inspiring of the candidates and I hope she can get a little more support from you and the NYTimes.
9
@Wilson
Agreed. Gabbard would be a sting candidate with good ideas but her once supporting defense of marriage kills her for the left. The left only recognizes absolute purity. There is no evolution, no redemption.
Unfortunately, Mr Friedman was an Iraq War supporter. I like Tulsi’s foreign policy but I don’t think he’s wired that way.
I can only hope the DNC is carefully studying all 5000+ comments here. Better than any poll or count of contributions, here is your roadmap for choosing - or more importantly NOT choosing - a candidate.
Does the DNC want to lose the 2020 election.?
This time, craft the President/Vice President ticket for maximum appeal, comfort. Now really is not the time for a revolution. It should not be hard to find a leader better than trump, but somehow the DNC can’t seem to do it.
Please, don’t give us a ticket that can’t win.
Don’t force this country into an inevitable 4 more years of trump.
Use some sense, DNC. Not Joe, not Bernie, perhaps not anyone currently running. Choose a complementary pair who can actually win.
13
Organic farmer I totally agree with your view.
Billions do all over the world.
However some of the Democrats are looking for a legitimising result.
They want to lose.
Only a lose will prove that Americans really are shallow, venal, sexist and racist.
They want to put forward a candidate, the anti-Obama who can show how uniquely awful America is.
It's not my, nor your nor the wish of billions but a few do hold that aspiration.
1
Mr. Friedman, here are some wise words for establishment centrists like yourself to consider:
"The Democratic Party will not return to its former status as a centrist institutional party. We are in the midst of a populist surge on both the left and the right, which responds to a correct public instinct that government is closed to us. Voters from both the right and left are correct on this one point.
"The government does protect those of us, including the NYT demographic, who have investments in stocks or housing.
"The young and the disenfranchised were let down when Bernie Sanders was sabotaged by the DNC. They still talk about it. They sent the new members to Congress, including the Squad. Don't lecture them.
"No candidate who focuses on some kind of vague centrist position can defeat Trump. Only a visionary can. The Party needs to negotiate with and adopt the positions of the progressives in order to have a unity candidate who will promote an Economic Bill of Rights . . . aggressively. Focus on security. This is a non-divisive issue."
4
I was glad to read this column because I had many of the same reactions to the first debate. I'm a left coast liberal, self employed, and my health insurance premium for just myself is almost $1,000 a month. I HOPE I will be able to afford it for 5 more years until I qualify for Medicare. Free healthcare for the undocumented? WHAT? I get it, we are not going to let people die in the streets or spread infectious diseases, but the way that question was posed and handled in the debate was a DISASTER. I'm already mad that people making just a little less money than I do pay 3 times LESS for their premiums than I do, and now 'm going to pay for the undocumented too? THIS is why working people abandon Democrats. I'm a pragmatist. Trump is a disgrace and a disaster, I will support whoever the Democratic nominee is, and from what I know, I think the surest way to win is to appeal to moderates. But I'd like to see some data on what it would take for a Progressive to win. What are the numbers of young voters, progressives, moderates, vs. progressives who will NEVER vote for a moderate, etc... This is all quantifiable. This is no time to ignore the math and blindly nominate the person who simply promises the pie in the sky most stuff. Our republic is in real danger. Saving it needs to be our first priority.
34
Another Boomer telling us younger folks to pipe down and listen to their elders. Nominate Hillary, they told us - that's the safe and rational choice. Pass the torch, Friedman. This is how we got Trump in the first place.
13
@Ben
Take the advice of the man who advocated for the Iraq debacle and globalization. You will do well I am sure.
I don’t like clowns who pontificate while enjoying the riches of one’s wife.
I am voting for honest and intelligent. I am voting Bernie.
1
Trump's base is frustrated and angry because Trump hasn't accomplished anything during his presidency. He failed to keep any of his promises. For the most part, he didn't even try. That's why he has to focus absolutely all of his attention on pleasing his base. He can't reach out to the swing voters who put him in the white house. He's paralyzed.
All he has going for him now is the economy, and instead of focusing on that he's trying to bury the good headlines with his tweets.
2
You may be absolutely correct in your assessment of Donald Trump’s presidency to date. But if the Democratic candidates’ only response is free, free, free, I can assure you that dog won’t hunt.
17
How many times have we heard from influential moderates how Democrats will win by playing it safe and staying close to the center? We heard it in 2000 with Gore, in 2004 with Kerry, in 2016 with Hillary. Hmm, notice a pattern here? I've lived with 3 Trump voters, and y'know what Democrats need to understand about Trump's election? He wasn't elected due to any specific policies - not even 'the Wall'. Yes, we should care about a candidate's policies. But many people - arguably most people - vote for the candidate whom they feel an emotional connection to, and who can communicate an overarching story that rings true. It continues to blow my mind that so many moderates and members of the Democratic establishment continue their habit of overly cautious (some would say spineless), self-defeating fear of doing or saying anything controversial. Here's the deal: Trump has broken all those rules. The key to beating him isn't cautiously trying to hold onto the middle. The key is for the Democrats to go back to their roots as the party of working people, not moderate pro-corporate technocrats. Nominate someone with the spine to take on the rampant corruption, the ruthless unaccountable corporations, and the fear-mongering rightwing extremists, who has the ability to touch people's hearts with their honesty, and they will win.
16
All 10 Democratic candidates raising their hand at the debate to affirm their support of healthcare for undocumented aliens was the biggest display of Group Insanity I have seen in a very long time. This upcoming election is not about Trump and his actions it is about the absolute craziness within the Democratic party.
30
@Carlito Brigante That's extremely wince-worthy. The election will reduce to strong and smart -- some Democrat, hopefully -- versus strong and stupid -- this president. "Craziness" among Democrats can only be petty cash next to the colossal narcissistic corruption in place.
Some ideas are just, bold and progressives. Say taxing ultra wealth, free quality education, public option for health insurance, green economy. Or reeling in the unfair advantages to plutocrats from globalization or tech monopolies.
Other ideas are sheer lunacy, and there just for posing and make progress lose elections by giving it bad repute... Such as free healthcare for illegal aliens (when US born citizens don't get it)... All the more as there is already some of this.
Trump Derangement Syndrome seems to prevent those who pretend to have it, to perceive which parts of Trump's program actually works. The part that is oriented against globalization is actually a good thing for the US economy. Too much of the West's economy has happened in China, in recent years, circumventing Western laws in most ways.
The representative "democratic" favor posers who can become stars. Hence the interest of posing outrageously and thus getting a lot of publicity.
One revolutionary element proposed not yet proposed by progressive candidates would be to institute a national referendum system as in Switzerland. This would make the political system more serious, and less helpful to posers. It would institute a tradition of debate removed from name calling and the grossest notions.
We live in revolutionary times, whether we see it or not, because the biosphere is on the verge of imploding. We need revolutionary ideas, but not all revolutionary posing represents authentic progress.
4
Sadly,Trump will easily get re-elected. We have a two part system, also sad. I can't understand why democrats can't organize themselves with a clear easy to follow platform, that doesn't offer only extreme measures rather simple fixes. There actually are simple fixes to our myriad problems.
6
@EWS...
I have two perspectives on Trump's ugly and blatant racism.
One is that his ugly and blatant racism is the result of a level of political savvy regarding America which I simply am not able to appreciate.
Or...
His ugly and blatant racism is simply the result of his own ultimate subjective racial ambition.
One of these perspectives will lead to his re-election.
The other will lead to his downfall and destruction.
Unfortunately... I am going to have to wait until November of 2O2O to find out which of these perspectives is more accurate.
For then we will have a mirror reflection for the entire world to see regarding America's true level of ugly and blatant racism.
As Gough Whitlam, a reforming Australian politician and statesmen whose government was elected 1972 on a pragmatic basis after years in the wilderness once said of his party's hardline ideologues, 'Certainly the impotent are pure'.
There's a lesson there.
While Whitlam was forced out in 1975 by conservative forces in 1975 he had changed the social and political fabric of his nation for the better
3
Only the impotent are pure.
Democrats have to learn this before the election.
I am a progressive Democrat.
I want the wall built, legal immigration.
Global warming changes everything.
3
If a transcript of what Nancy Pelosi is telling her caucus behind closed doors, I'm willing to be it would be nearly word for word Friedman's column and both would be right and to which they could add Garland, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh followed Ginsburg's age and recent medical history.
Bernie Sanders is challenging anyone (read Biden) to explain why they don't support Medicare for all or refuse to pledge not to take money from any part of the health care industry / Pharma. The better question should be put to Sanders, forcing him to explain how a "public option" doesn't solve most of the problems on which he is focused.
The suggestion was made yesterday by a commentator that "the Squad" feels free to push the revolution now because their focus is several years down the line. I don't know if that is true but if so, someone should ask how long these newly privileged legislators should require people who need access to health care today, the ability to pay for day care today, who need a living wage today should be asked to wait.
Progressive priorities (access to affordable health care and to a quality education, a living wage, equal treatment under the law, care for the environment) married with center-left policies is both a a sellable argument for 2020 and a way to effectively improve the lives of lives of people who struggle to make ends meet, to be seen and heard, or who might be told to "go back to where you came from."
8
@Douglas Weil
I thought AOC believed the World was ending in 2025. So, why would she be thinking of 2040 now?
4
Douglas Wiel, correct, it may all come down to Nancy Pelosi.
She is our only hope.
Some commenters are saying that Hillary was moderate and she lost. Therefore moderates can't win. Well in 2018 moderate democrats won much more reliably than more activist candidates. The activists won in districts where any democrat, moderate immoderate or totally radical, would win over any republican of any stripe. That is true of AOC, of Pressley and of the others. In other words their wins did exactly nothing at all for the party. The moderates however flipped districts. That is they won new territory. So to enlarge the democratic margin it is the moderates who offer promise. I am not wealthy but I gave more than a thousand dollars to Hillary's campaign and then watched in frustration as she frittered away her advantage by failing to campaign in swing states and by improvident choices of words (deplorables) comparable to Romney's bad choices last time around. I felt that she simply betrayed her supporters by running a wretched lazy campaign. It had nothing at all to do with moderation or radicalism.
16
Not 'eventually a public option' for health care. Enrollment in Medicare NOW for any individual or busimess which wishes to use it as his/her/its health insurer. This isn't socialism (and it isn't rocket science). It's merely learning the simple lesson in efficiency and justice taught by every advanced industrialized country the world over.
10
One block from me they have built a large dorm for students near U of Ottawa.They saved a house in the front and it will be a large Starbucks with a liquor license.Anyway seems like they cannot build enough dorms probably for foreign students who are now coming to Canada and not the US.I have never seen the US so divided.Your loss is our gain.
8
Trump didn't win the position he currently is in. He resorted to gerrymandering to get the job. Most people voted against him.
Please stop pretending these elections are fair.
11
@Nick,
I think you may be confused by the electoral college system, by which our republic selects its president, and the convoluted cartography of state electoral districts, by which members of the house of representatives select their voters.
2
I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump fixes his trade war with China a week before ballots are cast. He’ll sell the farm, claim a great victory, shoot up in polls, particularly where people are hurting in this country and are disproportionally affected by his trade policies. The current thaw in discussions with China is a part of that plan, he’s waiting for the right moment.
6
After 5000 other comments, this will likely get lost in the shuffle, but I'd like to say this: Last year I lived in the heart of Trump country in central Michigan. It doesn't take much to impress Michiganders. As long as they have a big truck, big yard and a huge American flag in the front yard, they seem to be satisfied with Trump's leadership. Never mind that jobs are hard to find and the old manufacturing economy continues to slide. Health care costs continue to rise and the levels of personal debt continue to rise. I had a sense that a lot of Michiganders are looking forward to the next war, because the place is plastered with military recruitment billboards. I guess there's hope in that, right? Most of the people I worked with last year sounded like FOX news bots. Suggesting that things are not what they appear to be was senseless. Remember, even after the Republican leadership poisoned the whole town of Flint, Michiganders sat idly by and basically did nothing. In the end, you're stuck with Trump for another 5 years. Get used to it!
23
Four more years - or even more, who knows? - of Trump would be good for a country at an impasse with no viable project.
Whites will never relinquish power to people who are owed 400 years of slavery, bigotry, and dispossession north as well as south of the border. Middle America Whites, unprotected by urban police and tech jobs, have the right instinct: those coming across the border in general bear a grudge, keeping it in until the whole family gets their papers and then it's out in the open with - rightful - claims to restitution for the mess that is Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and the rest.
There's going to be a need to negotiate a settlement for the small majority of Whites here, whether they're blue or red. They will have to agree to a schedule for a gradual loosing of the grip they have on the military, police, courts, government and corporations, serious programs in the trillions to rehabilitate the African-American economy and massive investment south of the border.
Look at China: South of it there's nothing but prosperity and stability. Let's not be racist to seriously believe Central America isn't capable of what Thailand, Vietnam or Malaysia are doing. The problem lies with a crisis of governance within the behemoth in the North.
A few more years under Trump and a subsequent economic and civil reckoning will convince White Americans that chain-gangs and three-strikes-you're-out won't work with 150 million people. The good ones will need to convince the rest.
Let's not forget:
FDR was so so far to the left for his time...
Old age pension (Social Security), government jobs for the unemployed, government housing loans (FHA), 90% marginal tax rate on the rich...the list goes on and on.
In my estimation, the greatest president ever.
14
God, have I been waiting for a column like this since the Democratic debate. Because whoa, are we in danger of screwing this up.
I'm a bonafide San Francisco liberal. I've always, always made my political decisions based upon how they will affect society as a whole, rather than my own self interests. But the issues being debated were so off the scale of relevance to my life that I can't quite understand what's going on.
35
What would you wish for your kids? I guess a happy life, with education, health, a good job or career, the ability to create a family as a young adult and the certainty of a secure and protected elderly age.
If you have it in your heart identifying any other human being, by any criterion (race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, legal status, sexual preference, etc) as not deserving of the same; your morals, which are repugnant to me, are the culprit of the current divisiveness in our country.
Yes, your morals, not your politics, because the latter are a simple outgrowth of the former. I can guarantee that with that mindset, even if tomorrow we would become an US that is only Caucasian White Western European, we would find a way to cannibalize some groups by becoming more creative and subtle in defining "otherness". If you think this is an exaggeration, just think Irish or Italian a few decades ago and unless you are obtuse, you'll understand you are mistaken.
So, am I pessimistic? Not completely. A charismatic leader who can educate us to view some current commodities (e.g., health) as human entitlements or rights, may perhaps sway us to again become compassionate, respectful of the other, and dedicated to our communities; characteristics that made the US the unequivocally most powerful country in the not so distant past.
11
I like most everything Elizabeth Warren is proposing - & yet, I don't believe she has the slightest chance of being elected president & I feel really bad she's running - & I feel the same way about Bernie Sanders - because I believe what they're proposing is hurting the Democratic Party. I get it that middle America doesn't like their policies & a lot of the Democrat's embrace of those things is going to make it harder for the Democrats to beat Trump in 2020.
I'm old. I've been around a long time. When I was a teenager I worked in Robert Kennedy's 1968 campaign and I recall what it is to be an idealistic young person.
But what all that got me in 1968 was Richard Nixon, a crook, a traitor and arguably until now the worst president.
I'm not sure how to reason with the idealistic people so enamored of Bernie & Warren and say to them: are you really okay with losing for a good cause when Trump's re-election could mean the end of our democracy as we know it? Abortion becoming illegal? More racism and likely an increase in racial violence? More rightwing government interference in the courts and the education system? A solidification of American power in one person - President Trump - who will not recognize any limitations to what he can do? He's not recognizing them now - nor is his Attorney General.
Heck, I remember when Robert Kennedy was Attorney General. 50 years ago I would have sworn that none of this could ever happen here.
I would have been dead wrong.
26
@fast/furious
Yet we had all those dire predictions happen under Obama and Biden didn't we?
We've had all this under Moderate/Republican control for decades; and here we are. Getting set to do the same thing some more.
Or...we can attempt change.
A status quo candidate isn't change.
America is an empire in it's final throes. Militarily spread too thin, bankrupt from the same and it's endless wars while robbed blind by kleptocracy's, and now friendless.
Attempt change? 'merica won't change because it's scared and loves to suffer it's own hubris.
Until the next Great Depression or World War, maybe a Climate Catasophre, the Left will sit idily by saying..."told you so!"
@fast/furious
Nixon got elected because Robert Kennedy got murdered, not because Kennedy was too far to the left.
I hope that Democrats pay heed to your advice and stop making ridiculous, unattainable promises that only the most naive and gullible believe are possible. I used to think that it was the Trump supporters who were naive and gullible; believing that "Mexico will pay for the wall," that Trump "doesn't have a racist bone in his body," that he was "an extremely stable genius," and so on... Turns out that they don't believe it, themselves. But, they are clever enough to see that supporting him moves forward the Republican agenda on abortion, guns, xenophobia, homophobia and the like. Take as an example, the mass soul-selling of the Republican politicians who ran against him in 2016, but now curl around his feet like adoring lapdogs. If Democrats want to make meaningful promises to the American people, they must vow to bind our nation together, create an atmosphere of mutual respect and honor, restore the nation's infrastructure, deal honestly and openly with environmental challenges, and ensure that the rights of U.S. citizenship are earned, not squandered.
10
Yes that's what you said last election, just go with the moderate, centrist, safe boring candidate.
How did that work out last time?
It simply amazes me that centrists like Friedman and so many writing comments here simply fail to learn the lesson from 2016, and just blindly and stubbornly insist that going with another Hillary Clinton will win the day, this time.
Friedman and the other centrists sound like a broken record, except they haven't noticed that Donald Trump is the one who broke them, stomped all over them in fact, and made the "just go with the safe, centrist candidate" such a debunked, discredited idea that I almost can't believe people are trying to push it again.
They just never learn.
11
Answer to your question: in the last election—that is, 2018—moderate safe Democratic candidates gave the Party control of the House if Representatives. Every one of the Squad won in an absolutely safe Democratic district. NONE flipped a Republican district. Forty moderate candidates DID. Get the picture now?
22
As an entrepreneur, I read everything by Tom Freedman. I do hope that Nancy Pelosi reads this!
9
I watched Friedman on Brian Williams. As usual the Friedman who thought the Saudi Princes were the wisest men in the universe did the exact opposite of what he attempted to do and convinced the audience that not telling the swing voters anything close to the truth lest we drive them into the GOP arms. I don't know why I read Friedman columns. Just because people tell me I must read Friedman he never proved worth reading and I continue to be frustrated that he has a platform.
Am I a masochist?
Trump is President because men like Friedman have continued to stop America from confronting the truth lest America become roiled in vitriol and hatred. Now cynicism reigns as America is roiled by blind hatred and the most caustic vitriol. I don't care what happens to Trump but America is in deep trouble.
70 % top marginal rates is not radical is the number the school of economics that studies inequality says is what it is going to take to turn around an economy almost over the cliff as interest rates are close to zero and the real estate and equity markets have lost their last leverage. Our center right government champions green and they are the voters in the USA Friedman fears alienating.
10
Sorry, Mr. Friedman, much of your criticisms regarding the President is unwarranted and ripped from the leftist propaganda of the last three years. Get out of your New York bubble and speak with Americans from all walks of life throughout the heartland. The majority love what this man has accomplished despite the roadblocks and hatred spewed towards him. They also love the fact that he's a street fighter and really doesn't care what partisan elitists, mainstream media, entertainers, and university pinheads have to say. He's getting things done and improving the lives of millions even though the Pelosi-led House has been ineffectual.
As for The Democrats, they're done. You want someone "sane?" Start a new political party.
9
@Keith Sparbanie
I guess you love tax cuts for the wealthy and the attempt to get rid of health care. Thank God McCain saved it.
2
Why didnt Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump? She wrote off his supporters. She called all of his supporters "Deplorables" and they wore the term proudly. Why would you insult someone that you absolutely require to vote for you to win the election? Many of todays Democratic candidates are doing much the same, they are folding Trumps supporters in with Trump and painting them all with the same brush and using terms far more hurtful and insulting than the term deplorable. If any candidate of any party is not willing to forthrightly be the candidate of ALL the people than they have no business of pretending that they can lead this country.
17
No, Hilary didn’t call all Trump supporters deplorables. Even little old me in Australia knows that. This is exactly what she said and what she went on to say about the rest of Trump supporters:
“You could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. They're racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic – Islamophobic – you name it. ....But the "other" basket ... of people are people who feel the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures; and they're just desperate for change. “
Perhaps half was an exaggeration, but it does seem like she was onto something!
1
@NYer - I really wish that untruth would not be routinely trotted out as fact. She did not “absolutely require” the votes of neo-nazis, white nationalists, white supremacists, xenophobes, and Holocaust deniers. That specifically is the “basket of deplorables”. In that speech, she described the different categories of potential voters for Trump and how some moderate conservatives could be reached, but that people described by that basket of deplorable words was beyond reach for the election.
@NYer She actually called half of Trump supporters 'deplorables' not all. Personally, I think her mistake was the walk back.
1
I am shocked that you fail to recognize that the raise your hand questions are gotchas. That is how media contributed to electing Trump. “Health care for illegals? Yes or No?” How is that not a Catch 22? You don’t raise your hand and you are saying what? Let the injured & sick die in the street? Let the ill walk among us & spread sickness? We already pay for through the nose to treat such people. Why not include them in the system where the cost will be equitable?
Regarding immigration: crossing the border illegally is not criminal now. It’s a misdemeanor.
AOC and those who support the Green New Deal ALWAYS talks about it being the engine for economic growth. Taking money out of the hands of the few who horde it and getting it into the hands of those who will spend it will expand markets.
10
I am shocked that you fail to recognize that the raise your hand questions are gotchas. That is how media contributed to electing Trump. “Health care for illegals? Yes or No?” How is that not a Catch 22? You don’t raise your hand and you are saying what? Let the injured & sick die in the street? Let the ill walk among us & spread sickness?
I am sorry I didn’t have a chance to look at it today but I am Regarding immigration: crossing the border illegally is not criminal now. It’s a misdemeanor.
AOC and those who support the Green New Deal ALWAYS talks about it being the engine for economic growth. Taking money out of the hands of the few who horde it and getting it into the hands of those who will spend it will expand markets.
For Heaven's sake everyone, you're all acting like this is something new, including the good Mr. Friedman! There's a reason why the late Will Rogers famously said, "I belong to no organized party, I'm a Democrat." I don't like how all the attention gets paid to far left ideas either, but it has always been true that way: it sells newspapers, as they say. I thought you guys hated how HRC "secured" the nomination, leaving Bernie to, well, burn, didn't you? My guy by far, Sherrod Brown dropped out, before even dropping in, but that doesn't mean I won't back the Democratic nominee, almost no matter who she/he is. My good friends, because if you're still reading this, you are, take a deep breath. We can't vote for another 16 months, so in the meantime, don't get mad, get even. We got ourselves into this mess, and we're going to be the ones who get us out of it. God speed.
8
Many here are in strong agreement with Mr. Friedman. I'm not one of them.
What I see in this Op Ed is a Center-Right Moderate saying you're going to lose 2020 if you're not like me. There is no owning up to the fact a Center-Right Moderate approach has led to one lost election after another, a loss of power in D.C., a Supreme Court that I have to pray won't destroy us, and a country that feels as if its teetering on the brink. Put differently, we tried the 'stay safe' approach you favored with Hillary and in case you haven't noticed, it didn't work out too well. A repeat of it will lead to the same result. However it's certainly worth noting, a much bolder, more Progressive approach in 2018 did in fact give us back the House.
I don't know if Dems can win 2020. The economy is in Trump's favor. As we've oftimes seen, 'It's the economy stupid!'. Never mind the rocketing economy is a lot of smoke & mirrors created by an exploding deficit. History tells us voters won't care about that until, unfortunately, it's time to pay the price.
Mr. Friedman is taking this Trump advantage and using it to bludgeon Progressives. He preaches Progressive thinking will lead to loss, when he knows full well if Trump wins its due to the economy, not bold thinking on the Left.
Fact is, convincing people bold initiatives are what's required for us now may be the only chance we have to defeat Trump. A voter content with his wallet has zero reason to change course just to 'play it safe'.
15
I was stunned by the title of this column and my stomach churned at the thought of Trump being re-elected. As I read on, I realized that Thomas Friedman articulated my own thoughts watching the debate. I, too, am a centrist Democrat who was disheartened when I saw the many hands raise in support of providing free healthcare to illegal immigrants when so many U.S. citizens cannot afford healthcare.
Similarly, I was disillusioned with those who proposed decriminalizing illegal entry into this country. Lest anyone think I am anti-immigration, I am not. Neither do I want open borders. I do believe we have a moral obligation to help those in need, but I am not ready to flood the country with so many people who will have no means of support. This country’s safety net has been shrinking rapidly and U.S. citizens deserve have priority to limited resources. We need secure borders and fair immigration laws that are enforced in a humanitarian way, including provision for asylum where indicated.
Thank you, Mr. Friedman, for sounding the alarm. I know there are others who share our concerns. Perhaps you should run for President.
12
@Protectingthepublic
Friedman would be a terrible president, but I do agree that the Dems are crazy to persist with open borders philosophy. That costs millions of votes.
We have anarchic labor markets because of illegal immigration. I had one employer say to me jokingly that when he advertises for a job, he should put in the ad "No Americans need apply" because it's so much easier to employ docile undocumenteds.
1
I live in a very left leaning progressive area. But I have run my own business for 17 years and I believe in growing the pie and redistributing it. When Obama ran I phone banked and danced in the streets of SF when he won. When Hilary ran, I shrugged and sat astonished watching all the states turn red on election night. Whichever democrat nominee is elected I will through my weight behind because this election is different. But please let it be someone who can win.... and not just in super progressive Bay Area but the country. I love my county and Trump must not win a second term.
12
You have echoed my very objections to what’s been going on with the democrats lately. Thank you. Many of these candidates (and democrats, in general) seem out of touch with what’s going on in parts of the US! I am reading Chris Armade’s Dignity and read JD Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy last year. I had no idea that there were parts of the US that are experiencing such despair! How the democrats turn a blind eye to that is shocking. I do also think that many of these folks are the very people that didn’t vote for Hillary in 2016. These people became “deplorable” on Obama’s watch and that needs introspection too.
I am also tired of the innumerable issues the democrats keep taking on and trying to fit under their umbrella. The republicans have 4-5 core issues and will not budge no matter what! It’s obviously easier to send out constant barrage of messages that keep getting repeated over and over. The democrats have to realize that they cannot please everyone and have to come up with their own 4-5 core issues and require any candidate that will seek endorsement of the party to adhere to those. As an immigrant-brown-woman that has voted D since I got citizenship some 15 years ago, I can honestly say that for the first time I am turned off by most democratic aspirants.
6
these people who are running for election absolutely don't understand what's necessary in this situation. No one listens; 2018 wasn't about a progressive agenda. It was a referendum about Trump; people expressed their revulsion with him. In fact a lot of people don't want anything like progressive policies. They want a leader, an FDR or maybe an American Joan of Arc, someone who will defend the American political system, who can stand up to Trump and call him on his corruption and his dictatorial tendencies; lead a revival of American ideals and meet him on his own terms and defeat him. None of these people have learned the lessons of 2016. They and the people advising them-utterly clueless and you really have to ask yourself why none of them see this.
6
This was the most sane article I have read in a long time. Me. Friedman- run for President! I understand all sides of the story! I respect opinions. But we have a tyrant as POTUS and any intelligent individual would be better.
It is not time to have a left wing revolution. We need to heal the wounds. He has divided our great country. We need to unite and disagree with compassion and ethics.
I fear his re-election. He will be so emboldened that there may be a generation of hate.
9
I'm afraid so; Dems are enhancing the odds of another victory for him with their focus on asylum seekers, impeachment calls, the racist comments he makes (is that anything new?). Rather than focusing on pressing problems our citizens face, let me count them: healthcare cost & access, income inequality, middle class wage stagnation, our aging infrastructure, climate change.....could go on & on but will spare all.
8
Who loves their employer healthcare? Perhaps those that work for the NY Times? Everyone I know can stand it. Especially the majority of us who work for small businesses or own small businesses. It's why people are seriously considering medicare for all. I would love to know who Friedman is actually speaking to.
2
This is the theme of Mr. Friedman's excellently penned article, but this is the problem with the Democratic party: "when the wealth of the top 1 percent equals that of the bottom 90 percent, we do have to redivide the pie. "
Redivide the pie. The people at the top got there by seizing an opportunity, havining the skill set too make something out of hothing, by taking a risk or two or three or 4,5, 6. The built companies which employee the majority of Americans.
Instead of having their wealth (that they worked hard for) stripped away, they should be rewarded. When was the las time you received a job from a poor man? Doesn't happen.
Redistribute their wealth and a vicious spiral towards Venezuala and Greece has begun. This is . not Sweden or Denmark which have CAPITALIST economic systems.
4
@Anne Nowlin Some truth in that, yet, I think the tax break was a bit much. Some sectors like the insurance industry are making a lot of money not for being innovative, but as the result of lobbying to a corrupt government. I don’t see any reason they shouldn’t be taxed to the hilt.
7
I don't hear anyone mention the obvious. Unemployment is down due to baby boomers retiring. It has nothing to do with any president and that will bring wages up.
6
Watching with great interest what happens there in 2020. I don't share Friedman's politics but he has a point. We just had a Federal Election here in May, and the moderate left leaning Labor Party opposition, which was expected to win in a landslide, lost to the incumbent right wing government of pro-coal, climate denying, bible bashing, small government, "family values", refugee-detaining, nationalist "Australia-first" troglodytes. The Labor opposition had run on a progressive platform to cut the massive tax breaks to the rich, and redistribute to health care, education etc, as well as take decisive action on climate policy and generally return our country to more Scandinavian model based on the common good, with a strong social justice bent. They misread the electorate. As seems to be the case in the US, the regressive right wing, and its wealthy cronies, seems to pulled off the ultimate confidence trick of convincing the average working person to vote against his or her own best interests. It's terrifying, considering what is at stake, including the existential future of our planet.
8
@AJ
I'm absolutely fascinated by the persistence of the belief that "the average working person" was persuaded to "vote against his or her own best interests". May I ask which percentage of Australian "average working persons", in your view, supported the imposition of a carbon tax - on top of any number of other new taxes? And would you say that this percentage was higher or lower than the percentage which considers Brenton Tarrant to be an Australian hero? Calling all these voters "troglodytes" is sure to endear your crowd to them in the next election.
2
@AJ An excellent assessment. Trump has hoodwinked many people into believing he represents 'their' interests by creating a bogeyman out of the foreigner. This has been the ploy of populists for hundreds of years. Whether it be 'dirty Jews' or 'commies', people always want someone to blame their troubles on. Let's face it, most people are rife with prejudices but polite society prevents them from expressing them out loud. Supporting Trump is a safe way to vent their resentments. The poor central American immigrant is just a handy target. As the great British writer and scholar Samuel Johnson said: Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
1
You say they like their private insurance, and I know that once a person realizes how much of their pay--direct and indirect--goes for health related costs they wake up and want something different. Or when a family member deals with a catastrophic or chronic illness that empties the coffers. A thinking person might consider a Medicare option if the people were brave enough to demand reasonable costing care and a Medicare like commission with regular people and healthcare providers who studied cost analyses and set fees. Privately insured might want to switch.
5
The far left at the Democratic Party fits squarely within a couple of well worn cliches:
(1) Having handed the 2000 election to George W. Bush when more than 90,000 Floridians voted for Ralph Nader, they returned 16 years later and facilitated the hostile takeover of our government by the worst, so-called (and probably illegitimate) "president" in history when they allowed the combination of our country's most hostile foreign enemy (Russians aided by Wikileaks) and 25 years of dishonest Clinton-bashing by Machiavellian Republicans to dissuade them from voting for Hillary.
In other words, the far left provided a vivid illustration of the aphorism that "those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to relive it."
Enter 2019, and they are already well on their way to reprising that performance when the inevitable consequences will be even more cataclysmic.
(On Inauguration Day, 2021, Justice Breyer will be 82 years old, and Justice Ginsburg will be weeks short of her 88th birthday!
(2) Trump has been doing everything imaginable to be involuntarily removed from the White House in November, 2020, in a landslide of epic proportions. When your opponent is self destructing, the age-old strategy has been to get out of the way and allow him to complete his journey.
But members of "The Squad" won't avail themselves of this well worn strategy. Instead, to paraphrase Abba Eban, "The far left of the Democratic never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity."
10
Of course I will vote for Biden or anyone else who has a chance of beating Trump, if it comes to that, but
Mr. Friedman tells us we can't change our course much at this time. Mr. Friedman tells us we have to wait for Medicare for all, that we have to wait for comprehensive immigration reform, that we have to wait to make big changes in our interactions with the environment. I guess he thinks he can tell when the country will be ready. But I've read Mr, Friedman's columns for years. He will never be ready for anything but centrism. His criticism of those of us who want bigger changes and who feel those changes are truly our best chance at a better country and world, is all too predictable.
4
Then get ready for the revolution.
Thomas Friedman is exactly as right about this as he was George W Bush’s Iraq War. In other words. He couldn’t be more wrong. Trump cannot expand beyond the poor mixed up base that supports him now. As usual Friedman seems more concerned with business than poor and middle class people.
All the Democrats need to do is to educate the American People a tiny bit. By that I mean mostly older people like Friedman, because the young people are the best educated in the history of the world, and they are not afraid of big structural change. I’m 63, and I’m not either. Please allow me to explain why.
I grew up in a socialist country. My schooling was completely free, and I went to college virtually free. When I graduated college and got my first job I had health care that paid 100% of my medical bills. That doesn’t sound so bad does it?
What country was this? The United States of America.
I grew up during the best economy we have ever had, and we have never come close to achieving it since. Upward mobility was the envy of the world. Poor people were rising faster than the richest people. People had huge families and easily supported them on one income.
For 42 years the top tier for taxes was at least 70%. During the Eisenhower years, it was at least 90% and that lasted for ten years. Reagan dropped it to 50% and 5 years later to 38% and one year later to 28%.
Compare the last four decades with the four decades before Reagan. Which was better from an economic perspective?
15
I am an unaffiliated voter living in Louisiana. I spent much of the day, writing to Elizabeth Warren. I like her plans, her clear mind, her ability to justify the plans. Tom Friedman and I had very similar ideas. Don't Rush Progress. We need to recover first, before all our aspirations.
It sickens me for him to suggest that Freedom of Speech is wrong, that the press is the enemy of our country. Rejecting our allies that have been with us for more years than our country is old, as well as NATO. Every one seems just fine with the lies that come so easily from the President's lips and those of his very few advisers--mostly his family. And every one knows SO FAR we don't have a dictator such as the governments for which he has such affection for. That could change if he wins the election
BUT HE WILL WIN if Demos insist on changing directions by 180 degrees in the next 4 years. If we are going to say we need to turn back to God, then there are SO many changes that need to be made, such as how our leaders have just rolled over and accepted his actions without a whimper. Recall how we are to love our neighbors.
As with Medicare for all, Universal Health Care MAY BE better for us some day, BUT RIGHT NOW we need the best way to provide health care to all citizens and legal residents including many millions who are covered by health insurance from employers. What they want and what works best RIGHT NOW.
Change will always continue. Know for what you ask and when. No backfires.
5
I am 40. In my lifetime I’ve witnessed that people don’t vote for policy. They vote for charisma. Clinton (bill), GW, Obama, Trump. All outsider charismatic characters who inspired a coalition.
Doesn’t matter so much what they say. More about if people like them and they are inspiring. Don’t worry about the politics, worry about the candidate.
16
The recent election here in Australia should provide a lesson to those hoping to sell revolution. The opposition progressive Labor party went into the campaign with a suite of reformist redistributive policies aiming in particular at the most extreme aspects of middle and upper class welfare we have here. It was risky but they were up against an infighting rabble of conservatives in government who presented virtually no policies but were able to generate enough fear to scare off a bunch of swinging voters. Things weren’t helped by a big spending conservative independent and the final nail in the coffin was a convoy of radical greens who swept into coal mining marginal (swing seat) electorates to tell the locals how to live their lives the week before the election (I’m strongly in favour of phasing out coal by the way). It all added up to the progressives losing the un-losable election by a big margin. Sadly it does seem that fear beats facts and trust beats truth. There is a lot of soul searching going on among progressives here as a result.
5
"I was shocked that so many were ready to decriminalize illegal entry into our country." The Trump administration is using and abusing the statute that declares illegal entry into the US as a crime to split up families. This was never done before and we need to assure it doesn't ever happen again. If it takes decriminalization to protect asylum seekers from having their families split up or from feeding the private prison beast, so be it.
7
Tom Friedman is pedaling the same logic that nominated the middle-of-the-road Hillary Clinton in 2016, and look where that got us. If the Democrats don’t propose new and brave ideas, they will certainly lose again like they did before. The only reasonable position for the Democrats is to move leftward and stand for something that is different than the failed mass incarceration and neoliberal policies of the Clinton era.
9
Mr. Friedman is the pundit that most closely matches what I have been hoping for in a nominee: I want a moderate with an open mind. (There is an old saying: The mind is like an umbrella. It only works when it's open.) As I listen to cast of candidates from the debate in countless interviews with various talking heads, I feel many have some good ideas but, they play into the now-established campaign strategy of Trump and the Republican Party painting the Democratic Party of the "socialists/open borders" party.
Our moderate nominee would promise those more progressive members of the caucus an open door for proposals and negotiations.
But, of course, there will have to be caveats. Taking the White House is no guarantee of taking the Senate. Without the Senate, McConnell and his enabling lap dogs will maintain that chamber as the killing field of Democratic legislation from the House.
Thus, saving the country and the Constitutionfrom autocracy and total implosion will require more than a blue wave. The Democrats will need a blue tsunami sweeping across the country. And, as Mr. Friedman tells us, a moderate is the only answer to take back enough of the country. Otherwise, it is too soon to start measuring for drapes in the Oval Office.
4
"Trump's Going to Get Re-elected, Isn't He?"
Yes. For the following reasons"
-The Republican Party members in Congress continuing to stay silent. If they stay that way, it is a tactic or strategy, in their support of Mr. Trump.
- The Democrats not concentrating on their Agenda. Policy proposals are more important, than getting distracted
- Mr. Trump's renewed, revised and updated tactic for his 2020 reelection campaign. His reiteration of the four Democratic 'Squad' members. It just started off today at a campaign rally in Greenville, NC.
- Mr. Trump considers some of the ideas coming from the Democrats as 'Socialism'. It is left to the people, how they construe it.
-People made to believe what Mr. Trump is saying. At the Greenville rally, Mr. Trump said the Republican Party has done the most to safeguard Pre - Existing conditions, referring to healthcare. This is best to be handled by the Fact Checkers.
4
I think the best candidate will be someone between a moderate Democrat and someone from the left. Someone who will be able to get votes from both the blue dogs and progressives. A moderate Democrat will not get the millennial vote. A progressive will not get the blue dog vote. And Trump wins.
3
Let's keep in mind that no matter which brand of Democrat wins the nomination (centrist to far-left), their policies will be far superior to the Republican ones and moderate by European standards.
Further, anyone voting Republican because they're afraid of immigrants coming here and making our economy better, filling our 7.5 million job openings, needs to seriously look in the mirror.
And heaven forbid we do a stimulus plan called reparations, raising taxes on the rich to fund money for poor African Americans who have ruthlessly been discriminated against for centuries, who will then spend that money in white-owned businesses who employ white workers, helping both races.
Democrats will expand access to healthcare and try to reduce costs; Republicans the opposite.
Democrats will raise taxes on the rich to expand the social safety net; Republicans the opposite.
Democrats will reduce the budget deficit as they did under Clinton and Obama, as opposed to increasing it as Reagan, Bush 43, and Trump did with tax cuts for the rich.
Democratic Presidents have historically had faster job creation; even Obama had faster job creation in his last 29 months than Trump's first 29 months. Since WW2, job creation under Democrats has been nearly 2x Republican with roughly same number of years in control.
And of course the stock market was doing better under Obama at this point in his Presidency vs. Trump, about +43% to plus 33% cumulatively. That's also consistent with history.
9
Donald Trump should indeed be re-elected as president of the United States. His track record in his two and a half years in office already beats what Barack Obama did in his eight years. More peace. More prosperity. What's not to like?
Why the difference? Not because Donald Trump has a better character than Barack Obama. He doesn't. Not because he gives better speeches. He doesn't. Not because he has more charisma or is more popular. He doesn't and he isn't. Not because his ideas are better. They aren't.
Donald Trump has accomplished more because he knows better how to get things done. Barack Obama was no slouch, but Donald Trump is a master.
The late Steve Jobs nailed it when he said of the then president, "I’m disappointed in Obama. He’s having trouble leading because he’s reluctant to offend people or [tick] them off." He added, "Yes, that’s not a problem I ever had."
Neither does Donald Trump. I had to laugh at what Donald Trump said to reporter Jim Acosta, who had asked him if he worried that his friendly comments about the crown prince of Saudi Arabia might offend people. Said Donald Trump, "I don't really care about offending people. I sort of thought you'd know that."
That says it all. A politician worries more about offending people than about getting things done. A chief executive is the opposite. Barack Obama was a politician. Donald Trump is a chief executive. He gets things done.
14
@John Smithson - Trump's s damage to the only environment we have - that's what not to like.
5
@John Smithson
Other than tax cuts for millionaires and gutting the ACA, I can't think of anything DJT has "accomplished". Unless you mean the rampant corruption of his cabinet and how he uses his office to line his own pockets.
2
@John Smithson What has he accomplished?
THANK YOU!
I am panicked by the way the Democratic Party is PANDERING to the fringe and alienating independents who we NEED.
People, get a grip!
You can be welcoming to immigrants and process them into good futures here but they also must come in legally so we expand the border crossings, etc. We do things using common sense. Same with health care. Keep private policies until the market makes it appealing to go to the government offering.
Good lord, get the independents, trump disillusioned. Get the WH AND THE SENATE. Then we can get to work. Let’s use our heads!
18
Mr. Friedman is correct and an article like this is long overdue.
I will only add the following - and the DNC and the Democratic candidates need to hear this:
I lost count how many people have told me (words to this effect) that while they don’t like Trump, they think he needs too get off social media, they criticize his behavior and want him to act Presidential, they ALL say that their 401K is through the roof, they only know of one (or zero) people in their circle of friends/family who have been laid off in the last year versus many just a few years ago, they say they feel more optimistic about being able to retire than they did just a few years ago and are very happy with the economy under Trump and therefore will vote for him, even though he has many faults.
I hear this from friends of all political stripes, I hear this from family members and I’ve heard it from several colleagues at work.
Democrats better get their act together and they better get it together soon.
28
So totally agree with your column, and most Democrats I know do as well. Maybe some of our candidates will read it. Thank you!
15
Thank you, Thomas Friedman. Now if only the Democratic candidates would follow your advice and band together, and forget their individual obsessions, and pick a reasonable candidate who won't alienate moderates and will appeal to some Republicans. Preferably Elizabeth Warren, who has charm, charisma, strength, and intelligence. And, amazing grace, is honest. Then the Democrats could get started on working to have fairer voting conditions, no interference from foreign countries, no intimidation at the ballot boxes, so that the voting process can move forward with reliability and validity, unlike both the 2016 and 2000 elections. However, the selfishness and the narcissism of the Democratic candidates is extreme, and unfortunately, probably incurable. You can't cure narcissists. Just as I predicted in 2016, against all the polls, Trump will win. From what I see and hear in Oahu, he may even win here, in what has always been a staunchly Democratic state.
13
I remember a comedian joking in 1991 about who are the Democrats going to run against Bush Sr.—Maybe dig up Zachary Taylor again?
At the time, no one knew about a guy named Bill Clinton. We are so early right now. Even among those running now, whoever wins will have to adapt and change to embrace an inclusive Democratic platform—one that includes reasonable compromise.
2
Trump won the election in 2016 because he got some 80,000 votes between 4 states yet he wasn't close to winning the popular vote. He received just 25% of the vote and even with a push from the Russians. Now he is polling behind almost every Democratic Candidate. So tell me. Where is this groundswell of support for Trump this time around? Why would you want to surrender when you are winning? Because you are a Centrist Democrat.
3
@ttjay or perhaps because we are fully aware that the critical flaw with polling data is that it depends on who is being polled and many of those polled will not publicly admit their support for Trump. The article is not centrism, it is a healthy and much needed dose of realism.
6
Sorry, Tom, you're wrong. I'm a 72 year old woman and I support a MAJOR change in the way things are done. We need universal health care for ALL, we need to get rid of dark money in politics, we need to hold financial institutions (and their head honchos) responsible for their reckless policies that WE the taxpayers had to pay for in bailouts! We need to move to the left in this country since we've been drifting right for over 30 years. I submit, Joe Biden, like Hilary Clinton, are really Republicans posing as "moderate" democrats. We can't do something for the working people of this country unless we move to the left. The Right will never be "fair" to the 99%, as recently proved by their tax cut. NO MORE RIGHT WING policies!
12
Friedman seems to be addressing three categories of voters: a) people who voted for Trump who are considering switching in 2020; b) people who voted for Hillary who might refrain from voting if the policy positions of the Democratic party and nominee include the elements that Friedman decries in his column; and c) moderates who sat on the sidelines in 2016. What doesn't figure in this column are younger voters, especially voters of color, who voted in lower proportions in 2016 than in 2008, whose votes could make the difference in 2020. Does he see a way that the Democrats can appeal to all these constituencies?
4
I don't think Friedman even begins to understand the extent of the Dem meltdown across the country. They're not just going to lose the swing states, they're going to lose California and the rest of the west cost. Maybe all 50 states. As someone who was a liberal for many decades I certainly hope so. It's time for the Dem party to fade into history.
16
@Mike
I don't think the Dems will lose California, NY, or Massachusetts, but I think there is reason to expect a McGovern type loss.
It's hard for readers of the NY Times to get a pulse of what's out there in the rest of the country.
2
@Mike, I too am a former Democrat, lean left, but when I have heard the chants that the Republican party will join the ash heap of history, my thoughts are: don't be too sure that black and brown people will buy into the racial message that DEMOCRATS are selling; sure there are a lot of racist in the Republican party, but I have only to look at our Democratic Congress and I get so anxious from their policies, I have to turn away.
Democrats are racist, too.
1
The person you describe as the likely winner is Pete Buttigieg. He's both forward-looking & pragmatic.
He believes in making college affordable or free for those who need it through substantial increases in Pell grants; allowing recipients to use Pell grants for living expenses while as student as well as for tuition & fees; making it possible to refinance student loans the way people can do with mortgages; & allowing people to earn loan forgiveness through community or national service. And he says people should also be able to live a good life without going to college, but rather through the trades, vocational training, apprenticeships, etc.
Buttigieg proposes a public option for "Medicare for all who want it," giving everyone the medical coverage they need & also allowing people to keep private insurance if they like (as done in many nations that we see as our peers).
He just introduced a solid plan to make national service a norm through at a million+ opportunities such as Americorps that strengthen community as we get to know & work with people very different from ourselves; it shouldn't be necessary to be in the military to gain that experience & build connections.
His substantial, wide-ranging Douglass Plan is a blueprint for undoing the effects of systemic racism through real justice & opportunity for black people.
His deep understanding & knowledge, sheer brilliance, kindness & honesty, steadiness & energy make him the President we need.
PeteforAmerica.com
19
jessiekitty, ideas mean little. Execution means a lot. Pete Buttigieg has not shown that he can get things done. Until he has, he's not ready to be president. He's young. Let him ripen.
1
@John Smithson Yes, he is young, but I argue that he has "gotten things done." What he has accomplished in South Bend is remarkable as he has turned the city around from a "dying city" (as Newsweek called it) to one with a growing population, substantially more jobs, importantly higher median income, rejuvenation of the city center and many other neighborhoods, and much more. In this city is the country in microcosm. Yes, there are still big challenges, but it's important to recognize how far things have come during his mayorship.
I agree with some that he would ideally be governor or senator in Indiana first, but that trajectory is essentially closed until there are more Democrats in elected office in many local and regional positions. Buttigieg's best way to make himself useful is at the top of the political/ executive branch of the government. I could see him as VP or Secretary of State, too. In an interview on "The 11th Hour" with Brian Williams last night, Thomas Friedman expressed his interest in Buttigieg as the stand-out candidate with potential, and didn't mention any other candidate. For the author of this article, I think this is significant.
3
It's amazing that all the talk is about undocumented immigrants and how these candidates are going to take care of them. What about people who live her? the 20 million + Americans living in poverty? The millions of LEGAL immigrants who suffer an uncertain fate not because of their own doing but because of our horrible immigration laws?
Trump won because he had a simple message that connected to a broad swath of the country that the Dems have neglected. Hillary literally and figurative flew over that country and that cost her the election.
Majority of Democrats are still moderates. Give us a reason to show up at the polls and we will. Obama did. Hillary didnt. Right now, I fear in an effort to pander to the left most wing, these candidates are going to lose the rest of us.
30
I often don’t agree with Friedman, but this column is spot-on, These proposals; reparations, single payer health care, open borders are delusional. I feel like the Democrats are the passengers rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
Voters want to vote for candidates who have the same - or mostly the same -values as they do, Kamala needs to know that Berkeley or SF rhetoric will NOT work in the upper Mid West.
34
Being rid of Trump is step one. But what the debates showed is that we've got to move beyond two party politics sooner rather than later. Begging the Dems to nominate a sane person who can win the White House in 2020 is a last gasp appeal for one more round of relative normalcy under the current electoral game. There is no long term future in expecting that the two major parties will continue to provide functional and satisfactory options going forward. The range of people in politics and their ideologies has become too broad, with the extremes too far apart. The two party moment is finished. It is currently dying an angry death. There have to be a greater number of parties, with compromise and consensus reached on a plural majority basis. Five parties would be a reasonable start. One party at the center, flanked by left and right of center parties on either side, with a pair of harder line, less compromising parties at the respective extremes.
3
I could not agree more with this piece. But here's what continues to strike me: The more liberal side of the Democratic party are basically in a circular firing squad. And I read the heartfelt comments in the section from a progressive asking when it would be their turn. And in theory many of these ideas are great (healthcare for all, affordable college, etc ... although I too stopped short at the healthcare for the undocumented when we can't even provide affordable and accessible healthcare to our own citizens... talk about out of touch!). But my answer to that answer to that Is that this country can pass more progressive policies when we take back Congress. All of these things that all of these people on the left want to pass... it doesn't happen in the executive office; it happens in Congress and yet nobody on the Democratic side is spending any time or energy on how to take back both houses with enough of a majority to veto the president. THAT is how things will get done. The presidency doesn't actually matter that much if the Democrats control both houses. Even if we win the presidency and the Republicans maintain control or near control of the Congress nothing's going to get done and nothing will change. The two dozen or so people running for president.... why aren't we putting all of this money and energy into taking back both houses? Instead we're going to keep a circular firing squad going and we're going to have four more years of Trump.
16
For Democrats to win, it is simple, as Friedman says:
Jobs. Good jobs. With benefits.
Unity
No revolutions
Time to come together to save American Democracy.
12
I’m surprised at negative response to the Democratic presidential contenders. Any one of them would be a million times better than Trump. I am particularly disturbed by the negative reaction to providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants. We already have a federal law on the books mandating that hospital emergency departments provide medical screening to every patient who seeks emergency care; and to stabilize or transfer those with medical emergencies regardless of immigration status, possession of health insurance or ability to pay. That federal law, EMTALA, was enacted by Congress in 1986 as part of COBRA. This law has been an unfounded mandate and has placed a significant burden on the emergency care system. After the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) more people had health insurance which actually provided healthcare so there was a drop in unfunded healthcare. Imagine how much money we could save with Medicare for All. We could easily avoid epidemics and pandemics by providing healthcare to all.
13
Attn. Mr. Friedman:
So you're miffed that some even want to extend health care to undocumented immigrants? Sorry, Thomas, if the battle lines are spread too broadly. Things get messy in a war.
You’re “shocked” that we’d demand the same sort of universal coverage that every other modern industrialized country enjoys? Sorry, Thomas, if your precious philosophy of incrementalism has been disturbed. It's worked so well up to now.
You're shocked, too, by Biden’s “feeble response”? How about being shocked by the shame of his record—which is what kept him from mounting an adequate defense in the first place.
You're shocked “that so many were ready to decriminalize illegal entry into our country”? Not only is this a canard, but I, on my side, am equally “shocked” that you would play so eagerly into Trump’s racist hands.
Should I be thankful that you notice the really shocking wealth disparity in this country? But of course! Biden will correct that.
No, Thomas, you may be a leading OpEd writer on the leading nation’s leading paper of record, but you're losing your relevance faster than Arctic ice. As a result of the big-money, top-down economic structure you promote, with its emphasis on profits and its blindness to externalized costs, climate catastrophe is barreling down and we can already feel its hot breath on our necks.
Signed:
Stephen Advocate
A grandfather projecting four grandchildren into the world you’re helping to create.
15
Every other modern country? Not a single country in Europe extends comprehensive single payer to illegal immigrants. In most of those countries, immigration laws are enforced more strongly than in the US. Switzerland, which offers the best health care in Europe, does not even have a single payer system. Instead, the country has a universal coverage model based upon highly regulated private insurance and a super strong mandate. The trouble with the left is that they have this vision of Democratic socialism and immigration that is nothing like the rest of the world.
17
@DC c
Since Republicans won't support "highly regulated private insurance and a super strong mandate" maybe we need to look at another plan.
And since, as another commenter said, illegal immigrants often pick our crops, slaughter our meat and handle our food and dishes when we eat out, I would prefer that they're healthy.
3
"Voters have reason to worry" says the subtitle line. What the NYTimes really means is "liberal voters have reason to worry". Because, gee whiz, a lot of us would love to see another night like that in November of 2016, with liberals at the expected Clinton victory party weeping and tearing at their hair and Trump drawing to an inside straight and winning Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. A night to remember. May it come again.
12
@Mark
It's part of the NY Times echo chamber... they expect that everyone thinks like them.
Mayor Pete is my choice to lead us out of this foolish hateful time.
16
It's going to be a long 6 years or so for the coastal elites...
11
Amen, Brother Thomas. Simply amen....
6
@Thomas L. Friedman (who deigns to respond to flatterers but not people who are critical)
Funny to see how you only respond to comments praising you but not to ones who challenge you.
You are on record (a best selling book) for supporting globalization to the point of defying age old physics wisdom. You are on record for supporting the Iraq War, arguably the dumbest war we got involved in since Vietnam. WMDs? Where were you?
And now you pontificate about what Democrats should do? Claim that you respect Bernie while stabbing him in the back each time you have an occasion?
Bernie is a tall man. He is a man who never compromised. He always took the high road and was never ashamed of his shtetl and tenements roots. He was one of the best milers in the city.
You are a short man. Have the stamina of a four nail. Married into money and followed power as a truffle sniffing pig in Piedmont.
And you reign to respond to comments! Respond to mine if you dare! You should be able to search for Blunt easily. Ask for help from your IT person!
12
This op-ed reads like it was written in the same sitting as a letter to Santa Clause.
5
Well, in the Immortal Words of Julian Castro, uttered when discussing abortion rights, “...Let’s not forget Trans-women....”
Within the last week, NYT has run two pieces in “...What are your pronouns...”, two pieces on Busing or other mandated polices related to integration, and just today, a piece about how A YALE PROFESSOR struggles to discuss white privileged with guys with whom she is traveling instead class on international flights.
Then of course we also had the article about Mayor Pete’s struggle to come out, which closely followed the one about how he found true love on Grinder.
I could go on.. And on. And on.
If the only issue is beating Trump-and it is-then maybe NYT could avoid feeling it necessary to punch every single button on the Left wing screen not once but multiple times a week?
just a thought.
14
Three words: God help us.
8
debraSTL nails it: AOC is racist; Trump, out-of-control offensive mouth and all, is not.
While dozens of woman have reported his life long caddish behavior, I am struck by the fact that no one who has ever worked for or with Trump has ever pointed out a single instance of racism or anti-semitism. And you can bet the media, led by the NYT, has looked ...
Actions speak louder than words. His racism is a "fact" because the media tells us it is so. Kind of like the "fact"than global warming is anthropogenic...
8
Gavin Newsome just passed free healthcare for illegals in California, and you know who's going to pay for it? Uninsured citizens that will still be required to pay Obamacare type penalty fines. Yes, struggling citizens who can't afford basic insurance will be paying for illegals to get it for free. So yeah, Democrats are most definitely looking like betrayers of America and Americans.
22
You misstate the case. Newsom's budget takes advantage of a budget surplus (thank you, Jerry Brown) to extend Medical, which is free or low cost, to undocumented residents. The reinstatement of fines for not enrolling in Covered California is intended to shore up California's insurance market and prevent increasing premiums--not to pay for the Medical, which is a separate program.
8
@Steph Thank you Steph. Also, am I correct that this will be offered to those 25 and under only?
1
@Steph. Nothing is free, the money could have gone to extend coverage for citizens before unauthorized immigrants.
1
To the extent that the current economy is doing well, it's thanks to the 8 years under President Barack Obama! Please don't be fooled into thinking that Trump should get credit for the current economy. No! President Barack Obama should!
We'll see what Trump's decisions yield when it's too late -- after the 2020 election or after the 2024 election.
The tax cut bill was Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell's creation. Trump was exactly what Grover Norquist called for in the Oval Office: someone "with enough working digits to hold a pen." (Besides that tax bill exacerbated on of America's biggest problems: an immoral level of income and wealth inequality that is off the charts!)
The only thing Trump has done to the economy so far is to create the largest trade deficit, the largest budget deficit and the largest national debt in world history! Also he's putting a lot of US farmers out of business with his tariffs. More trouble is on the way as he takes on trade with Europe. And don't forget the fiasco with pulling the US out of the TPP, which handed a HUGE victory to China which was not a signatory, but now will own that space!
Trump is a total disaster in every area he touches, including the economy. Forget what the polls say if you want to know the truth about Trumps effect on the economy.
16
@NY Times Fan Well said... Trump is a master at taking credit for other people's efforts.
2
I don't have a lot of time to read every line here because I'm kinda busy working the job to pay for health insurance and the bills and the house, moving the kids around, getting groceries, doing the meals and dishes--you all know the grind. But I think you got this right, Tom. I am a progressive, liberal--I want to see real revolution. I love the men and women who are fighting for justice and change and I support them. But first let's do everything we can to get this idiot out of the White House and keep the House and move the bar on the Senate and make headway in all local and state races.
12
Thomas Friedman, you have great ideas. Maybe you should run!
3
Tom Friedman should run for President. Seriously. This a fabulous editorial.
2
Of course Mr. Trump will be reelected, thanks to the crisis created by the 100,000 migrants that are coming every month
8
Bravo.....well said, and its always about meeting in the middle...
Thanks Thomas Friedman...
3
Not a word about climate change/destruction!
5
So let me get this straight: Trump making "The Squad" the face of the Democratic Party (they're really not the face of the Democratic party ... they're only 4 people with 1 vote each) will encourage swing voters to vote for Trump, but Trump being a racist who's close friends with a convicted pedophile and sex offender won't bother then at all?
What's wrong with our country?
17
@Roberta Plenty. Plenty is wrong with the country. That's just the way it is. No, the squad is not the face of the Democratic party, but giving healthcare to illegals, while MILLIONS of Americans struggle to pay for their own health insurance is insane. I think that MOST people assume that politicians are sleaze bags, so no, Trump being a degenerate is not an issue for a whole lot of people.
1
‘Trump’s Going to Get Re-elected, Isn’t He?’
...NO, he ISN'T!
10
Tulsi Gabbard... or bust. Literally.
Trump will get re=elected. The twenty something Democrat candidates are involved in mass hari kiri. the press especially CNN are doing their level best to prompt disunity among the candidates. the same people that gave trump all the free campaign air and print time are aiding the republicans on destroying the democrats.
12
So Friedman is worried has good health insurance. I guess he's Trump's man after all.
4
Calling Mitch Landrieu.
Yes he will. Because the wimpy social justice complainers called Democrats have no backbone
4
The entire platform of the Left is that we will give away everything for free, to the tune of many tens of TRILLIONS of dollars, and Trump is the most racist (or 2nd most racist, if you believe Jon Meacham) POTUS in US History.
First, let me remind everyone that total revenue for the federal government, this year, is estimated at $3.4T. It's going to take A LOT more than that to pay for Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, free tuition, paying all student debt, etc., etc.
Regarding racism and US Presidents, 10 of our first 12 Presidents, ten owned slaves. Twelve did, in all. Trump is fighting for 13th Place on any list of racist Presidents.
Then consider this quote, and who said it, and compare it to Trump’s tweet:
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, on 18 September 1858: “I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races … I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races from living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be a position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.”
5
@Andrew 1858 was a very different time to 2019. It's called progress!
@Andrew As the years went by he changed some of his ideas on this.
1
Fearmongering and worry accomplish absolutely nothing. Collectively we have the means to change this country. #VOTEBLUE2020
10
What a baloney opinion. No no no lefties, you must wait for your revolution even though this is the perfect time. We've got to give the nomination to a neolib in-bed-with-business corporate shill. Because reasons. Hello? Do you think Gina Raimondo does anything good for RIers? The state is falling apart, the schools are crumbling, and everyone I know spends two hours a day sitting in traffic to get to a job that doesn't cover rents and debts. Thanks Gina! At least you get to make the big bucks on medical pot. I wonder why no one else is allowed to get dispensary permits?
6
Right on the mark Tom - get it together and smarten up dems or fail again.
3
If Republican President Donald "Individual 1' Trump get re-elected it proves we are a nation of white supremacists...
4
debraSTL nails it: AOC is racist; Trump, out-of-control offensive mouth and all, is not.
While dozens of woman have reported his life long caddish behavior, I am struck by the fact that no one who has ever worked for or with Trump has ever pointed out a single instance of racism or anti-semitism. And you can bet the media, led by the NYT, has looked ...
Actions speak louder than words. His racism is a "fact" because the media tells us it is so. Kind of like the "fact"than global warming is While dozens of woman have reported his life long caddish behavior, I am struck by the fact that no one who has ever worked for or with trump has ever pointed out a single instance of racism or anti-semitism. And you can bet the media has looked ...
Actions speak louder than words. His racism is a "fact" because the NYT and the rest of the media tells us it is so. Kind of like the "fact" that they tell us global warming is anthropogenic...
4
@Stephen Martin
Trump has a long history and pattern of racial discrimination, for which he and his father were both brought to heel by the Department of Justice on more than one occasion. There's plenty more than that.
5
Take note, ,Amy Klobuchar.
5
Right On Tom Friedman.
Are you listening Biden, Harris, Warren etc.?
1
Please send this article to every Democratic running for President.
3
A vote for either a moderate Republican or a moderate Democrat is a vote for Goldman Sachs. When I look around the developed world I notice that all the countries have universal healthcare, paid family leave, guaranteed paid sick time, substantial paid vacation time, subsidized daycare, and free or near-free college. We have none of those universal benefits. Clearly these are not far-left ideas but standard operating procedure for all First-World countries. Voting for a progressive candidate at least moves the needle in the right direction.
7
One question I haven’t yet seen posed in the comments I’ve read is, would Gina Raimondo consider jumping into the 2020 race? She’d get the vote of this liberal Democrat, who feels that we absolutely must moderate the more extreme policies espoused by the Dem candidates if we want to stop the Trump nightmare.
Democrats are playing a very dangerous game. And they could lose it.
They told America that Trump would be a catastrophic failure and danger who would end the world as we know it. In trying to keep Americans in a state of fear about Trump, they lowered the bar to measure him.
Trump has now stepped over that bar with room to spare. The economy is pretty strong – decent growth, little inflation, some wage improvement, etc.. We’ve reduced troop levels in some countries and not gotten into any new wars, have at least a chance at peace with North Korea, and are finally confronting China over unfair trade practices.
NATO is stronger and our relationships with Japan, South Korea and other countries are still intact. The U.S. judiciary and Congress haven’t been eliminated, and actually continue to effectively block many of Trump’s initiatives. The Supreme Court is somewhat more conservative, but not much.
In short, the world didn’t experience the catastrophe promised by Democrats.
This not only damages the credibility of Democrats, it makes Trump look good in comparison to their dire predictions.
6
Where is the optimism, "toward a more perfect union". The nomination process is to present ideas and yes some present louder than other, but it seems this day and age important to be more loud than thoughtful. In the end, it will shake out for the best, I hope, and I know all Democrats and many others only want one thing above all, end the awful Trump regime.
4
Yup, we need a centrist candidate. That's the only way we can win.
Just look at the split in today's impeachment vote. Only 95 in favor. Those are the so-called "progressives" who are on the move to lose to Donald Trump next year if they keep this up.
The Democrats regained the House in 2018 because of health insurance. Instead of fixing health insurance, we have people who want to gut private insurance and give them Medicare for all which hasn't been tried yet as the public option. We need to do this incrementally. We also shouldn't be worried (right now) about paying teachers more, or gun control, or a green new deal, or anything except fixing health insurance costs and defeating the current incumbent.
I shudder to think he could win again.
5
Despite Obama being a moderate he was young, charismatic, and able to energize the base and centrists. As much as I admire Biden’s accomplishments to this country, he does not have the same appeal. None of the candidates to the left of him can win any state outside of the west or east coast except maybe Illinois. A democrat who can win this election is sadly not running and I fear that person no longer exists.
5
@Clark If he/she did exist one of Trump's supporters would probably assassinate him/her a la Robert Kennedy. If you want to understand the popularity of Trump, just look around you! America and the world are full of people whose hatred of 'the other' defines their every belief.
Doesn't everyone want a President who will treat them, WITH RESPECT and who does not lie, cheat, commit criminal acts, call people names or behave like a member of the KKK.
Is that too much to ask?
I am tried of all the hand-wringing about how the Democrats need to behave to win. Be respectful and honest!
9
Way off base. You don't control a revolt the way you control the thermostat in your home. You don't tell Ocasio-Cortez and Omar that their stories and sad and cute and all that, but stick with the old guy with whom Tom Friedman feels more comfortabl. You of all people should understand politics, cultures, and people better than this. You, who wrote masterfully about the Middle East of all places are this tone deaf about the young progressive women of the Democratic Party? Yikes.
10
@bstar Here’s the thing: Friedman is saying that it’s you and many others who are the ones who are tone deaf. I agree. Many writing comments here agree. You’re not going to defeat Trump with the far-left agenda, but you will have the self satisfaction of being pure. Yes, yikes!
10
Amen.
1
Amen!
Please don’t screw this up, democrats.
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This is a crisis. We cannot let Trump get re-elected. The Democratic candidates have to stop bickering among themselves, stop this destructive infighting and realize some of their ideas (open boarders?) are just plain crazy and unacceptable to most Americans. Instead of debates they should have an informal and private (closed to press) meeting where they talk candidly and like responsible adults and affirm that their goal is to beat Trump, not beat up on each other. Then they should come out with a plan that will ensure that we get rid of that racist, amoral bigot in 2020. I know that they all have outsized egos to run for president but they need to sacrifice somethings for the greater good.
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...someone needs to say it, ...how about a Thomas L. Friedman and Gina Raimondo ticket for 2020 -
It's too bad the entire bunch of them won't read this opinion. It will fall on deaf ears. They have no idea what the people want only what the few loudmouths want. I feel if they can't pick a moderate to run against Trump they will hand him the election. I am an Independent voter and I won't vote for anyone who doesn't understand what the country needs. They just want to stand up and pontificate pie in the sky untested ideas and feel more responsibility to illegal aliens than help our legal citizens. It defies reason!!!
4
The president has solidified his base, as if it wasn’t already solid, by his recent racist rants.
But I believe there are many moderate Republicans and independents who are appalled by this behavior and by his ignoring of impending climate catastrophe, his coziness with Putin, Kim JongUn, MBS and other loathsome dictators and his dismissal of our long term allies.
These voters would support a Democratic candidate who focuses on jobs, health care and education.
They will not support a candidate who promises Medicare for all, elimination of all student debt, health care for undocumented immigrants and other impractical ideas.
The Democrats can win easily if they show some restraint.
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@Peter E Derry Yes exactly, the Democrats need to focus on Trump, that he reflects the ugliest, lowest part of humanity and that he is not a leader that Americans can take pride. There are two sides to every human, and Trump is a reflection of the dark, twisted side, filled with hatred and fear. We need to appeal to people to walk towards the light and away from the darkness. But it must also be tempered with rational, practical solutions when it comes to solutions for issues that face ordinary people. Welcoming every immigrant is simply not practical. Free medical care for all is simply not practical. Look to the Scandinavian countries, they have achieved an almost Utopian society. A balance of capitalism and FDR-style socialism is the most practical solution.
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“But please, spare me the revolution!”
Spot on in every respect Friedman.
Good jobs with decent benefits is about all most people want. It doesn’t mean other things aren’t important. But, if we get out there now with every leftist wish list item Trump will be re-elected and unaccountable even more than today.
WE
MUST
BEAT
TRUMP
Everything else is secondary. The simplest message to do that is the one Friedman suggests. A unifier focused on good jobs.
“Spare me the revolution!”
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Trump is a propagandist spreading lies- his specialty. He even lies to himself. The man has a MENTAL PROBLEM. Yes, Trump is a danger to the country. We have a huge military as well as the world's largest economy. We emit 15% (maybe more?) of the carbon going into the atmosphere. He is 1/3rd of the federal government by law, and controls many other departments.
His brain is a study in contradictions- he even second-guesses himself. Imagine you're working at the WH on a daily basis while this wild animal is sitting in the oval office, or watching Fox "News"
for hours on end, anxious to see any scrap of dissent. His followers like his rallies, but he threatens them and their children's existence. But economic insecurity grips their hearts, and keeps them up at night. The Democrats want to "give everything away" to the poor, the sick, the disadvantaged. What about US, they say? He knows they are living on the scraps the wealthy give them- the ultimate con job. They don't understand politics, so they despise the system that was meant to protect their rights. Someone needs to reassure them that the government will help look after THEIR needs. Not facebook, not "twitter". Once they get that, they won't be so worried, and we can go on to live another day. Or perish as a historical footnote, while the rich guys move somewhere else. Someday of course, there will no longer be "somewhere else"...
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The greatest fear many of us have is that once again the Bernie supporters will sink the Democratic nominee’s chances and get us four more years of Trump, in other words the death of American democracy.
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Part 3: Friedman puts ALL blame for the division in society on Trump. Trump maybe a miracle worker with many things but even he wouldn't be able to come out of nowhere & within a few months divide 320 million US citizens (or 130m voters). The deep division felt by many people clearly started under Obama. BLM, for instance, started under Obama, not Trump. Trump didn't cause OWS.
Friedman claims it is Trump causing the debt to explode. Complete nonsense. Obama took the debt from $10.6T to $19.9T in 8 yrs. Trump has seen the debt increase from $19.9T to $22.5T. The debt has increased by $2.6T under Trump, that's $2.6T in 2 & a half yrs. So Trump is increasing the debt at an average of approx $1T annually. Obama increased the debt at an average of $1.16T annually, just slightly more. If Trump's exploding the debt then so too did Obama.
What Friedman doesn't mention is how much faster the economy is growing under Trump than it ever did under Obama. Obama averaged GDP growth of 1.5% over 8 yrs, never once hitting 3%. Trump's 2 yrs have had growth of 2017--2.3%, 2018--3%.
Friedman says the country has become paralysed. Really? More people in work than at any time in history, consumer confidence at record highs, millions OFF food-stamps, 6m new jobs, 1m new manufacturing jobs.
Maybe what Friedman means by Trump doing crazy stuff he means doing things like refusing to accept Obama telling us ISIS are with us for the long term & instead eradicating all trace of a Muslim Caliphate.
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@kojak
GDP grew 2.2% win 2017 and 2.9% in 2018 - the same numbers Obama hit in 2012 and 2016, plus Obama had a 2.5% and a 2.6% year. Trump came into a growing economy and got another tax cut to boost it. Obama came into an economy that was falling off a cliff. Let's see what Trump's next 2 years look like before bragging.
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Why would he get a second term? Well how bad does his behavior have to get to have his enablers stop him? He's been a bad actor in government and every terrible action without consequences simply emboldens him to stray further from being a good public servant. From the Access Hollywood tape to this week's heinous slur toward 3 native born and one naturalized citizen government employees one would have thought that his handlers would stop him. All we seem to hear is crickets. So sure, in spite of the shootings on 5th avenue, just as he predicted, he'll still get votes. (Not mine. But others certainly.)
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Thomas has literally taken the words of my mouth. I have been saying this since the debates. The blue will go blue, the red, red. Purple will all go red if decriminalizing illegal entry, health care for illegals and Medicare for all without a public option is the Democratic platform.
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Free healthcare is a good jobs program, it sets free the entrepreneurial spirit, releasing them from dead end job. Not radical Tom, real.
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Make Ivanka Trump secretary of state? What a brilliant idea! Why didn't I think of that?
1
When will the Liberals finally realize that Trump cannot be beaten? He has stayed one step ahead of them at every turn and they also tale all the bait he leaves for them. Offering free stuff will never get the job done. Since Trump has been president can anyone name ONE piece of legislation that the Democrats have put fourth to help the American people? You can’t because all they do is whine and cry about Trump. How has that worked out for you guys. Also, calling him and the people who voted for him racist (and other colorful names) only serves to strengthen his base. For a group of people who always tout how smart they are and how much they care, they always seem to say and do the dumbest things. Enjoy the 2nd term of Trump. You all deserve it.
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@That guy
Yes, I will refer you to all the legislation the Dems in the house are passing that MItch is killing in the Senate. You can look it up if you're curious.
3
Repeating all of the crazy lies about Trump (colluded with Russians, racist, misogynist, NAZI, etc.) IS NOT going to get ANY of these dudes elected. As Friedman pointed out, going to the extreme by banning all private health insurance is not going to get the job done. Nor is punishing workers by punishing their employers with higher taxes going to do it either. The Dems REAL problem is that they have to be against EVERYTHING Trump has done, including the immensely popular economic successes.
3
@Tom You mean Obama's immensely popular economic successes that Trump has taken credit for.
2
The Demcrats are off on another children's crusade, they want to be ideologically correct and will nominate a weak candidate.McCarthy and Dukakis come to mind. Good luck kids.
The idea of a Unifier is silly. There is no one on the political horizon who can do this. American does not want nor is it capable of having a serious adult conversation about solving anything.
America is well on its way to being a modern banana republic. The Republicans are within one election of their Plutocratic dream, no compromises from them.
A second term will rapidly accelerate the decline and fall of America and the Base will not have a clue how it happened. The decline and fall has to happen before change can take place and by then it will be too late.
1
I love all the comments ridiculing the Democrats for their ideas about healthcare, immigration and what not. A lot of the comments are from rural areas talking about their hard lives in being rural.
So what are the GOP doing about your plight? Nothing. That’s correct. Nothing. At least the DP has ideas and direction. These ideas are not perfect, but the DP will improve the most situations in the country if given the opportunity. If Conservatism is your thing, great. Stick with it and lose your healthcare when the ACA is repealed. Support the GOP enriching the wealthy at your expense. Enjoy an uncouth President. And quit complaining.
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trump is so awful by every metric possible that i'm reminded of the louisiana governor's race between edwin edwards, who at the time was believed to be corrupt (he was convicted years later!), and david duke, the erstwhile grand marshal of the KKK. the fertile imaginations of louisianians, fearful of losing tourist money if duke were elected, went wild. bumper stickers read: vote for the crook! it's important!
we need something like that for 2020. the person who opposes trump must get your vote, regardless of who he/she/they is/are.
2
Voters notice when Pelosi stands up to the extremists in her party. They also see that McConnell says nothing about Trump's infantile remarks and alt right talking points.
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There is not a single solution to such a complex problem as taking Trump out of the presidency. His base loves him because he’s their Super Hero/Archetype who came to save the day.... a relentless horror show of a brassy, boisterous leader, who regals them with endless pomp and norm-core America.... Trump is the collective consciousness of the heartland of this country. I would love to bid him good riddance but good luck with that cause you can’t argue with crazy nor reason with stupid...
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US politics hit a new low yesterday as Republican House members failed to condemn President Trump's racist tweets. Ten years ago, the party of George Bush, Colin Powell and Condi Rice would have had no trouble condemning Trump's tweet as racist, divisive and unpresidential. Times have changed. People of principal have left the Republican Party, and all that is left are sycophants and loyalists.
Submitted 16.47 EST July 17th
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But is there a moderate among the Democratic candidates who could beat Trump? I just don’t see one.
2
Still dumbfounded and frustrated that we really have to worry that Trump can be re-elected. It says we need to work on the ethics and educating of so many close minded Americans. I really thought America was progressing, growing up, conquering racism, discrimination etc. calling out propaganda like Fox News and the majority was growing intellectually, ethically. Instead it appears we are as corrupt and "third world" as other countries.
Oh yeah, make America Great Again..... Good luck with that.... Trump moves backward and takes the country with him..
I really don't think I can handle another 4 years of Trump. Depressing. Are there meds for this?
4
Where are the politicians that take care of the middle class Americans. We seem to pay for everything: Healthcare, public education etc... because the poor, corporations and the rich certainly aren’t and then we get huge healthcare deductibles and terrible healthcare. While illegals get free healthcare!
3
If that lying piece of unpleasant material is reelected, I predict that Mexico is going to build a wall on its northern border, Canada is going to build a wall on its southern border, and both countries will pay for it.
4
Elect Trump once, shame on you. Elect Trump twice, shame on me.
3
You should run for president !!i love your ideas.
Why? Immigration.
That's the reason he won the first election.
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So Friedman's ancestors who came to this country were "high-energy and high-I.Q. foreigners?" - Gguess what ... my parents, both fourth grade graduates would not have passed his immigration test (not to mention that they didn't offer I.Q. tests to immigrants back then). This is a classic case of "do as I say, not as I do." Ugh.
2
agreed 100%, we are in NY insulated and isolated, we will vote for the party's nominee. BUT i cannot see any of those candidates appealing to the entire middle of the USA especially outside the metropolitan areas. Healthcare for undocumented aliens, open borders. It's the economy Stupid. give us another Hilary and we'll get 4 more years of The Donald.
1
Why do the Dems not get it? This is so very pathetic. Trump is ripe for the picking and the Dems are so very clueless!
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Friedman writes well but soothsayer he ain't. His history of instructing liberals to move to the center has been disasterous for millions of Americans and the effects are still with us. Like Charlie Brown and the football, he insists this time becoming less progressive will win the game.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2009/03/friedmans-follies
2
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! Now, DEMOCRATS, LISTEN UP!!! A big tent will beat Trump. Quarreling Democratic factions will not. Please Listen. Please. We will be destroyed by another four years. Open the Democratic base so lots and lots of people will vote for the Democrat.
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Mr Friedman: unfortunately there is no one among the current Democratic hopefuls who even come close to what you wish for.
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What about Federal and State actions within living memory that have disavantaged blacks and others? These acts may never be compensated for, but they should not be so easily dismissed by those living now who have benefited, perhaps even you Mr. Freedman.
Who will pick up the possibly diseased dead bodies of untreated undocumented from the streets-trash collectors?
When refugees avoid the legal points of entry (to protect their children) their illegal entry should not prevent their cases from being heard in the future.
The article should have advocated for fuller explainations than was possible in NBC's format, not such cheap shots. I expected more from you Mr. Freedman.
Uh, Tom......no Democrat believes in making the economic pie bigger, none. Barack Obama didn't....he was all about managing low expectations of his over regulation and give aways. You have to go back to the Bill Clinton days for a Dem who believed in expanding the economic pie, ever since then it's been non-stop talk of doom and gloom and income inequality. That does NOT win elections. NO ONE in the Dem party can be the nominee with those policies, as you say, the left wants a revolution NOW. They will fail. But that is the current thinking of the left.
2
The Democrats believe they could win the election if they manage to be crazier than Trump.
I think after the third strike to impeach the Democrats are just harassing the President.
They deserve the Squad as their face of the party now!
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Only if the Democrats are Trump lite will they win the election, Mr. Friedman? Why bother to have an election then. Just anoint Trump as President for Life. Then you'll get what you want - an American Netanyahu.
2
Voice of reason. Thank you Mr. Friedman!
Liberals as much as I like them and their ideas never win elections and they get smoked. We can win on simple common sense ideas that the whole party supports. We need a winner to save this country from Trump LIAR.
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Wow, you have some research to do. Medicare will cost this country less and provide better health outcomes, so says the World Health Organization and all empirical evidence. Yes, even giving illegals healthcare is cheaper than having them arrive in the emergency room without a plan.
I'm sort of stunned by this article. I thought Friedman was smarter than this? Please Mr. Friedman, go back and do your research. I want fact based opinion pieces.
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I like this article because it's terrifyingly true; " Trump's going to get re- elected again isn't he? Please? Because.....
[People think] we have "open borders." Are you kidding me?? Have you been down by the border in the last ten years? It is so militarized in a swath thirty miles wide, you certainly will go through check points every five miles and have your car searched for illegals. Open Border? Get real! This is a lie X 1000 by Donald Trump.
The border crossings are required by law to accept requests for asylum. That doesn't mean asylum is granted. This is your country and what is great about it.
People say mandatory medical care for illegals is a terrible use of their tax dollar. Folks get real again. No matter who you are no one gets turned away in a medical emergency, whether they can pay or not, citizen or not. You just have to get to an emergency room.
The trouble is that in rural America that might be 70 miles away; care for the chronically ill inadequate; medicines unaffordable; no dental care.
The fact is that planned Parenthood is a really good deal, providing life saving testing, check ups and meds for both women and men.
It's corporate America and Wall Street that Love trump. Not a regulation in sight.
Great comments. I'm just depressed about how ignorant people are; how blindly women hating so many male commenters are. I swear, the real hatred is for smart women in office. Women reporting rape. Epstein getting busted. OMG! Re-elect Trump!
3
All of what Tom Friedman says makes sense, makes me want to get behind the centrist candidate. I then remember the last election, we chose Hilary, the safe centrist and we all know how that turned out.
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@LS Yes, but then Trump was an unknown quantity. He is very much a known quantity now.
YES this opinion totally struck a chord for me! In my opinion Trump is likely to win reelection since the Democrats are focused on all of the wrong things. I've always voted Dem and agree with most of the "left" agenda. But I'm so discouraged with the party right now. Instead of having an inspiring conversation about how we can realistically make America work better for non-elites, the front running candidates seem to be putting all the wrong issues first. Identity politics, calling people racists, virtue signalling, and trying to out-woke the next person is just not a winning strategy. There are real issues facing this country, especially in rural areas and for less-educated voters. Talk about those, please! Good quality jobs. Affordable health care without huge tax increases. Good schools. An immigration plan that celebrates newcomers while also acknowledging concerns around illegal migration. Give moderate Democrats, independents, and reasonable Republicans disgusted with Trump some confidence that you have an agenda that is worth getting behind. For what it's worth, I was a Bernie supporter in the 2016 primary. He was truly the man of the moment last time. Now we need someone who is a complete contrast to the current president who has already "blown things up." A majority of Americans agree that the President is despicable but that won't stop them from voting for him if the other side has nothing to offer.
8
I am a guy that was pulling for Sanders to win the last elections.
He lost me this time by promising to pay off the student loans. I don't like the liars even if they do it to mobilize their supporters.
Biden is too old, left in the dust by the new era. Why doesn't he requests that the retirement age is raised to his age of 76 before getting the Medicare and Social Security benefits if the thinks he is perfectly capable of doing the hardest job in America.
I liked Elizabeth Warren until I realized he lacked courage to face and challenge Hillary Clinton four years ago. If she were afraid of her, how can she take down the global corporations?
If no Democrat has the guts to ask for the balanced budget, then no Democrat has the guts to run this country.
It cannot survive without the leaders with courage to demand the personal sacrifices.
Being pampered and reckless is no way to protect us from collapse.
2
The points you make in in this op-ed, Tom Friedman, are spot on. I completely agree with you that the 2020 election is about a "vote to save the country." Hope all the Democratic candidates are listening and read this piece frequently.
We, in solidarity with Abe Lincoln at Gettysburg, need to "highly resolve...that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Some may believe our government is imprishable; this voter does not. Trump has made me a believer that the unthinkable could happen.
4
Thank you, Tom, as always, for taking what seems complicated and confusing and making it simple and clear. We need simple and clear in this crazy environment.
3
This fear and concern of immigrants as manifest by the many comments is a complete mystery to me. Every US citizen is either directly or indirectly an immigrant to this country, since well before 1776. If one goes back 20-30-or 40000 years, more or less, than even Native America is included. The only other group who may not be true immigrants, and are free from that label, are African Americans, because their ancestors were forcibly brought here against their will. This country was made by this history, although along the way numerous atrocities were committed in the name of ethnic/religious purity or were wished to be, like now. So far, as Trump proclaims as well as the self-righteous, as if he or they are responsible, things have turned out OK, but it’s far from perfect.
2
I believe the issue is not immigration. I believe most Americans by far support legal immigration.
It’s illegal immigration that’s the sticking point.
But the “all or nothing” Left paints anyone concerned about illegal immigration as a racist.
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@DoctorHeel: I really don't believe that.s true and in this country there is very little that is all or nothing or zero sum, unless stated by a certain politician, who only believes there are winners and losers.
I totally agree with the idea of "growing the pie." Our country is focused on the idea that success of the other is at my expense. I long for a politician with the creativity to paint a picture of what a growing economy, with opportunity for all, looks like. Of course that same politician has to have the courage to tell Americans what their responsibilities are in preparing themselves for that opportunity. If our education system isn't in sync with the business builders, we will continue to hear cries for more immigration to handle our tech jobs. If Americans can't focus on the future and stay wedded to the past they will miss out on the opportunities.
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Title: ‘Trump’s Going to Get Re-elected, Isn’t He?’
Subtitle: Voters have reason to worry.
"No" and "yes but."
PT's re-election is not inevitable as shown by the 52% of Americans who have consistently disapproved of him in polls taken since he took office up until 4 hours before this writing, as studied by fivethirtyeight.com's "How Popular is Donald Trump?". Probability is something else, but it's manifestly not inevitable.
That voters have reason to worry understates by orders of magnitude, the degree of concern which is appropriate. Why? Because of the 42% who per fivethirtyeight.com approve of PT's actions as president. Assume that 42% translates to the 60+ million who voted for him in 2016 or even 10 million fewer. That's still 50+ million voters who support the undermining of many if not all of America's fundamental values, most since inception.
Even with a new president, that 50+ million still needs to be dealt with and can be expected to re-group and continue the undermining what PT has done and the Republicans have at best acquiesced in.
What then if PT is re-elected? In one old man's opinion, he will continue the dilution and destruction of American values and by the end of his second term that America will be no more. Reason not only to worry but to fear.
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The RI Governor aside, Friedman’s argument isn’t to vote for the Center for change. It’s to vote for the Center to prevent crazy town from taking root.
But it’s too late for that. Crazy town is in full bloom. And with Putin’s help - which it will get again, it will continue to run roughshod over the country.
Friedman’s approach is to appease the Center. Not much good, if any, has ever come from trying to appease the Center and “to appeal to our better angels,” a favorite phrase of Friedman’s pal, Jon Meacham.
Lincoln tried it. The South rebelled. The South rebelled against reconstruction, too. 100 years of appealing to better angels in the Center did nothing for the civil rights of most Americans. A Great Depression forced a radical change about which to this day the Right and Right-Center complain. It took the assassination of JFK (talk about radical) to get Civil Rights passed. For good measure LBJ added a Great Society that fizzled under an unnecessary war.
Still, the Right resisted and the Center caved. It gave us Clinton who gave us a horrible crime bill. It gave us GW and his war of choice. It gave us Obama and a feeble health care plan that collapsed before it was even implemented. It gave us Trump.
The Center is pretty much worthless. Choose a side. If it’s crazy town most Americans want, then it’s crazy town we will get. It won’t matter much, then. The planet will overheat.
3
I could not agree with you more. As someone who is extremely motivated to see Trump lose the election in 2020, I am very concerned the candidates are signing up for immigrants over the people already in this country who so desperately need help. Thank you!
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I think that the media is unwittingly ensuring President Trump will be reelected. The American public is smarter than the media believes it is. We don't need news "analysis" or "commentary." Please, just report the facts and let the public do its own analysis and commentary. Trust us. We're smarter than you think.
13
@MarathonRunner they can’t. Remember their real motive is money, not to inform the public. It’s theater. What really matters is those ads after a segment. The politics is like the sport on espn. It’s what attracts the ads for the revenue. Their interest is to create tension and havoc and emergency for eyeballs or clicks. That’s how they brought the world Donald trump. As Michelle wolf said in that press function you might recall about one or two year ago, “they created the monster, and now they’re benefiting off him.”
5
That isn’t even remotely possible. We are going to have to learn how to deal with the media we got and separate the wheat from the chafe.
2
At first glance, it makes sense to look for moderation. But at what cost? If the only thing one cares about is making sure that Trump does not get re-elected then one is reacting mainly out of fear and disgust. Who will ever run on a progressive platform if all we care about is caving in to our fears? True that the thought of another four years of a hideous presidency is unbearable. But the notion that we need a quick remedy at any cost is also unacceptable. It is a shallow way of approaching a very difficult situation in which the stake is no less than the future of the country. In combating the utter meanness of Trump’s presidency, it is being shortsighted to sacrifice candidates with progressive agendas out of fear that it will not help stop Trump. It is reacting out of fear and it is shutting the door to those candidates who have a vision of an America with a brighter future. Keeping lit the flame of that kind of vision is vital even if, possibly, we have to endure intolerable pain in the meantime.
2
Spoken like another Republican light - one who gleefully endorsed the Iraq war, and then had to do a mea culpa. And also one who has been moderate on a host of issues and always for middle of the road candidates.
Oh well, it is wishful thinking that this time the left leaning folks - the young, the women, the minority and immigrant communities - are going to go slink away and again allow the corporate Democrats and party elders to force a candidate on them.
Let the debates ensue, let all the candidates tell of their vision for our future, give them a hearing and give their ideas some thought. Don't just judge them by the media's bias. Don't just believe the Republican light folks' talking points about how awful it would be to have a progressive candidate for a change.
The energy, enthusiasm and the money is on the left this time around, and they need to be accommodated and THEIR base appealed to for a change. And finally get over your PTSD about the last election which is clouding your views of what is possible with a fully energized left out in full force to support someone they truly believe in.
3
I usually find Mr. Friedman a bit too middle-of-the-road, a certain strategy which ends up, on the left, of always taking half blame.
Sometimes, you have to put in. Either in or out. Democracy faces mo0ments like that. No need to fear them. The stakes are high.
I will vote for any sane man or woman who has a basic grasp of the rule of law and the concept of duty to office.
Partisans need not apply, unless that is part of your platform.
That is about as simple as I can put it.
3
There aren't enough progressives that live in the important electoral college states to keep Trump from re-election. I'm also sorry that the Dems aren't going to win against the Republicans on $10 donations either. Bernie & AOC's great Socialist Revolution dream is gonna throw the country to Trump's 2nd Inauguration speech in January of 2021.
7
Excellent article. The Democrats need to stay focused on broad based appeals. It should not be so hard. But it seems that many candidates take extreme positions to set themselves apart from the other candidates. What is needed are positions that will attract large numbers of voters.
4
Based on the comments, a third party candidate seems like an optimal outcome given the choice between two extreme options.
Howard Schultz? Maybe someone who could match the charisma of trump like mark cuban or Dwayne johnson?
All I know is that the dems are relying too much on polls, and the “silent majority” will push trump to an easy victory. I live in the heartland and it’s pretty obvious here
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So I wonder who Mr. Friedman thinks would be the best choice for the Democrats. I still like Mayor Pete. He appears to be progressive but also practical. He is smart and thoughtful in his responses.
9
Amen. I happen to be one of the few people left in America -- it seems -- who believes that when it comes to practical governing most solutions actually lie in between the two ideological camps, and fall in the pragmatic, non-ideological category. I don´t think the answers to most of our societal challenges are ¨conservative¨ or ¨liberal.¨ i.e., Tax people fairly, teach a common culture of service and respect for democratic, pluralistic values, etc. I do wonder, though, if some leftists would rather Trump win and enjoy four more years of division and hate rather than see a moderate Democrat victorious, proving that the answers depended on compromise rather than ideology.
13
You hit the bullseye. I was in need of therapeutic assistance to figure why I'm so scared that the Dems will lose again in spite of how bad Trump is. Now, I understand why I'm freaked out. We do NOT need more ideology from the left or programs or plans that will run off moderates. A little left of the middle of the road will attract disaffected Republicans and the independents. Far left will attract ideologues and purists and lose the election. Take your pic, be ideologically pure or win the election?
22
Sure thing. Let’s keep on the same incremental track that the democrats have been on for decades now. Oh, and let’s keep catering to the wealthy corporate owners of this country. Sounds like a great plan for the next 40 years.
6
"-many Americans are terrified and troubled by how bitterly divided, and therefore paralyzed, the country has become"
Yes, they are. And Friedman thinks THOSE people are going to vote for Donald Trump over a progressive Democrat? Ridiculous.
There's never been a President like Trump - not in living memory. His fans will vote for him no matter what, but the majority of Americans are rejecting him as the demagogue he is. Let's not settle for replacing him with a seat-warming puppet for the usual, moneyed suspects.
4
Well, never have I been more grateful to be Canadian. While we are certainly not without our faults, if Americans consider Trump to be the lesser of two evils, I'm not sure how you will ever dig yourselves out of that hole. Courts were to be checks and balances for government, and your government is stacking them with wholly partisan choices. And your government condones racism, deception, oppression, and government corruption.
10
Thomas Friedman - are any of these candidates listening or reading to what I (and I'm sure many others) agree with you on? At this point, I have no doubt we'll be looking at 4 more years of what this dreadful bottomless pit has to offer. What needs to be done to get these candidates to wake up and take notice?? Exasperating! Depressing!
9
In the general election we get a choice between two candidates with the potential to win.
For independent voters like myself, priority #1 is what long term policies does the candidate want to do that will make a significant impact on the country and is that direction the better choice between the two. Sometime the choice is between two directions, where I want neither.
I have never gotten to priority #2, as the differences in candidates in policy direction over my lifetime has been great enough there was no reason for me to go any further to decide my choice
After the 2016 election, I spoke with a woman who was very agitated that Trump was elected, his poor character, that he was very wealthy so could not be trusted, no experience in government, hated the trash talk, disrespected women.
Knowing in advance being pro-choice was critical to her, I asked her, “if you had to vote today for Clinton or Trump but now Clinton was pro-life and Trump was pro-choice but they were otherwise unchanged, who would you vote for?
After challenging me for even asking such a question, after a while she finally admitted she would vote for Trump.
Given the very different visions Trump gives from all of the Democratic candidates, this will be an election about national direction li,e no other. There will be new heights in trash talk and the outrageous.
And traditional media and social media will make fortunes from massive audiences to the train wreck and massive political ad spending
3
It is very simple to understand the popularity of Trump.
He is terrible, and all of the Democrats are worse.
People hold their noses and vote for him because he is the only slim chance of putting the brakes on the incessant progress (ugh) of the status quo.
7
AAWG There is so much AAWGness in this country. We should ALL wear this motto. We need to rally around the same message!
We saw what the MAGA message did, although as with all Trump's untruths it is really MTGA. We need to admit this too. Loud and clear. Trump's presidency was to save himself from further backruptcies and bad foreign loans. It was to make himself and his family great again. Yes, another 4 years of Trump is MTGA, truth.
But we all know.
America Always Was Great.
AWAGness!
3
Additionally, the Democrats need a candidate who will not tolerate swift-boating. It can't be a personality remotely like Kerry. I think Trump would destroy someone like Biden who would not cope with Trump's viciousness, let alone Putin's.
The twitterers (a.k.a. twits) want to go down the same paths as Trump, just the opposite face.
So here is a wild and crazy idea....
Personally, I think most of the current Democratic candidates are way out there in their sheepish metoo politics. Not one of them will beat Trump.
So, how about biting our tongue and tasting the poison during the primaries and everyone go out and vote for the Republican candidate that is NOT Trump and closest to moderate American values.
Massive loss for Trump in the primaries. Win-win. Of course, the GOP could choose to ignore the vote and still make him the candidate...
2
Yeah but...
1) Only 3 candidates want to abolish private insurance. But why are people terrified of this when the health insurance industry is a steaming pile?
2) No candidates want to decriminalize illegal entry into the country. Some do, however, want to return it to being a civil offense by repealing Section 1325.
3) The concern about including coverage for undocumented immigrants is misplaced since generally they pay taxes.
---
The issue is that these "extreme ideas" aren't extreme. They're the stuff of pretty moderate liberalism. We allow the GOP and right wing "news" sources to dictate the definition of "leftist" and "liberal".
Looking back at 2016, when you cut out the racists and people that wanted to "own the libs", you're left with people that voted for Trump because they didn't want an establishment candidate.
People are fed up with how our system is working and want change. Hillary might as well have written "same old same old" on her forehead since what she offered. Trump, as inept and unfit as he is, still at least sold the tale of "I'll change things".
It's 2019, nothing appreciable has changed for the better for most people. The government still doesn't work for us (unless you're a racist I guess), with perhaps minor exceptions. So what are people going to do in 2020?
I'll tell you what they won't do - vote for someone that promises the same old same old.
So yeah, I'm worried Trump will get re-elected too. Because Biden could win the nomination.
4
Thank you! The first sane take on this mess of Democratic candidates. If only they weren't too stupid to listen, and so far, they're not showing much intelligence.
4
It is truly amazing that some democrats think we must decriminalize illegal entry to the US and then support all those who entered illegally on our social programs like a healthcare for all. The middle class will simply disappear. Since when should one not pay into the pot to get something out of it. The whole world will be entering through our southern border, as has already begun. I believe Donald Trump is a disgrace and a terrible threat to our democracy as we know it, but I believe the Democrats are paving the way for his re-election. You hit the nail on the head Thomas Friedman. I hope the Dems will wake up.
13
It's the money stupid! Why would the new robberbarons want it any other way? They elect presidents. They are the deciders. A coup has taken place in America and we are all appalled by a tremendous fraud? Is this really a difficult concept? This isn't a democracy. The last election proved that. What is the biggest thing Trump has done that has nothing to do with Obama. TAX CUTS FOR BILLIONAIRES! Why is neo-liberalism fading? Because it long ago became neo-feudalism, only a neo-liberal version of it.
2
If this is what "securing our borders"looks like, count me out. I've lived in a border state my entire life. It never looked like this. This looks like terror.
3
There is one thing that the nation has not faced in the last few years. We have not had a true crisis. Therefore, Mr. Trump has not had to unite the nation to address anything.
But that will not go on forever. Yes, I can believe that the electorate may in fact be stupid enough to reelect him. But when he finally does get tested, I think he will fail miserably, and the electorate will get the punishment it so richly deserves.
George Will stated words to the effect that it is going to have to get so bad that we as a nation will say "We are never doing that again". I would be nice if we did not have to learn our lessons the hard way. Unfortunately, I think we do.
3
If one more Republican asks Democrats to tone it down and moderate, I’m gonna blow. Why are the media and pundits not pounding the keyboard asking republicans to do so? Dems have moved right beginning with Clinton that most people don’t even know what left means.
5
Unless the Dems get more support all around, no policies, radical or otherwise, will ever be pushed through. And just to chime in from the South, we (those of us under 35, anyway) are for the “radical” Dem policies. Seem incredibly sane to me.
We almost got Abrams elected down here, after all. The conservatives (the older generations mostly) are terrified of anything labeled Democrat. Most aren’t going to swing to a moderate Democrat. I imagine it is similar in the Midwest. They just vote Republican. My parents were willing to do anything to keep Stacy Abrams out (as usual, they had no clue what she was really promising to do). My parents even made my grandpa — with advanced dementia — go vote, just to get one more Republican vote. They are just afraid. Moderate didn’t work in 2016 (and I was one of the independent millennials who stayed home — because I thought there was no way Trump could win). I learned my lesson. I think a lot of us did (as witnessed in Ga by the turn out for the Gov race). If a moderate is what it takes in the end to get Trump out, so be it. I’ll do my duty. But he’s not the big issue (like he’d have you believe). He distracts us from the real problems. If you really don’t agree with the leftist policies, then don’t vote for a liberal Dem candidate. But don’t shoot them down just because you’re scared they won’t win. That’s not wisdom. That’s fear. It might win you the battle (I doubt it), but it won’t win the war. And my generation will pay for it.
5
If this country is stupid enough to re-elect this con man then I guess we get what we deserve. As PT Barnum said--a sucker is born every minute.
5
The incumbent, especially when unemployment is low, will always be difficult to beat. But what the Dems have to realize is this is a blood sport. To defeat Trump the candidate will have to go low & hit hard & never stop until the election’s over. Debating policy choices is a losing game.
2
This is ridiculous. Unfortunately, we have a two-party system. The further the DEMS move to the right to capture the so-called moderates the further the GOP moves to the right in response. This has resulted in the GOP growing more cruel and vicious as they are pushed to the extreme in order to stand out. Their supporters follow because politics is a team sport and it's all about your team winning. The cruelty is normalized because as Lindsay Graham said; "you have to remain relevant". Stop normalizing cruelty. It's not reasonable. It's not rational. It has led to a creature like Trump being elected President.
5
How can anyone regardless of how uneducated they are continue to support trump. What has he done for them? He gave a huge tax break to the rich, then last year promised a tax break to the middle class within two weeks. Has anyone seen that? I can understand that they don't care that he is a racist/bigot. Don't they care that he seldom if ever tells the truth? The damage he has done to our country seems irreparable because of his divisiveness.
The Democrats must come together and vote this unsavory administration out of office.
1
Of curse, we all have reason to worry! We can see that Democrats cannot get their act together, bickering over abortion, human rights, diversity, etc., while Trump can, as he very rightly pointed out, kill someone in the middle of 5th Avenue, and not lose a single vote. I worry about the voters that will become disillusioned enough with the Democrats to stay home on election day and in that way, again the decision will be made to continue to have an atrocious oaf in power because democrats could not compromise and present a coherent front. Please don't let this happen!!
2
Providing comprehensive health care to undocumented immigrants is like a stick in the eye to the average American who either can’t afford it themselves or had to work their tail off to get it. One of the Democrats has to break with this nonsense.
13
If this was the 1400s, Trump would be considered the antichrist. But the fact that we're more educated now doesn't stop him from getting away with lies, obstruction, racism, misogyny and consorting with tyrants. All of which are a matter of public record.
Trump doesn't care about anybody but himself. His phony support for the country and his base are just a con man's way of consolidating his power so he can rob us blind. Like Putin has done in Russia.
Please, America, treat this election as though your lives depend on it. Because they do. In so many different ways.
3
Tom nailed it.
Are you listening Democratic candidates?
9
That's a lot of words, Tom, without actually spelling out which Democratic candidate you support, or why. Why not Warren? It seems for you Biden's the obvious choice. Really? The middle of the road? We need big, bold thinkers, risk-takers, challengers. I think Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are our two best and brightest candidates. Biden can't beat Trump. They can.
4
Thank you TF. Thought provoking and right to the point. Lots of issues on the table. Individually and collectively important. But, overwheliming issue going forward is voter turnout. Trumputin and crew know that - thus the attempt to scare away participation in the upcoming census with the Citizenship question. So, we have to work hard on getting out the vote - the vote of legal citizens. Most understand the base end game being played by some Republican aspirants. Demographics is not in their favor. They are having a hard time sleeping at night. What has been ignored to this point is the 72 year lock up of all personal information provided by the Census law. Nobody except the Census Bureau has access to it until after most respondents are pushing up daisies. It is plainly and simply a count of all residents - legal and undocumented. Nothing more, nothing less. Doubt that Trumputin knows that, but certainly Mitch and crew are well aware of the Census regulations. That all flows through to the Electoral College allocations. Cadet Bone Spurs is trying to repeat the 2016 strategy revealed by alogarithms. Respond to the census, register, contribute, vote, Dump Trump, Ditch Mitch Machiavelli McConnell, emasculate Lyndsay Graham, bar Barr. Flip the Senate, expand the Democratic House Majority. Take our country back. Make America Great Again. NO APATHY - VOTER TURNOUT CRITICAL.
3
Don't be surprised when ICE is dispatched to protect polling places in the next election.
Yes, Trump is going to win. Even if he loses he wins because democrats are feckless and dithering moderates. So Trump, as a billionaire wins because no one works for the people, not Trump, not the GOP and not democrats. Everyone works for the wealthy and corporations and see the people as the enemy.
As usual, there is no reason to expect your vote to mean anything because all the politicians are bought and the majority of the people in this country are selfish childish imbeciles.
4
The conservative right wing centrist party platform, don't change a thing because it's not a broken program, and it still works for America today, bring us Joe Biden. This program will never get you into the WH in 2020. It is this program that will get Donald Trump Re-elected in 2020. Your writing for the wrong era today.
"Democrats should focus on how we create sustainable wealth and good jobs, which is the American public-private partnership model: Government enriches the soil and entrepreneurs grow the companies.
It has always been what’s made us rich, and we’ve drifted away from it: investing in quality education and basic scientific research; promulgating the right laws and regulations to incentivize risk-taking and prevent recklessness and monopolies that can cripple free markets; encouraging legal immigration of both high-energy and high-I.Q. foreigners; and building the world’s best enabling infrastructure — ports, roads, bandwidth and basic social safety nets."
What democratic party policies enacted are you talking about here?
You sound just like a republican.
1
Bless you, Mr. Friedman. I'm a rabbi and a lawyer, retired now. It appalls me that no one in the Democratic party leadership position has spoken as you have. Hopefully, given the esteem in which you are held nationwide, we will all "sing out a warning; sing out danger." (Seeger, Peter 19__)
1
Couldn't agree more. I'm fearful that the Dems are going to blow it. They need to be listening to the voters rather than one-upping each other on freebies we can't afford and don't have a snowballs chance in haides of getting implemented.
3
Yes, yes and yes. Fellow Democrats, forget about the "wedge" issues for now. Gun control, abortion rights, LGBTU... all important matters, especially to those directly affected! But NOT at the price of relecting the monstrosity now preparing to deliver a senseless rabble-rounding speech in the state of my birth, where I grew up with sensible people all around me.
As you all know - and it's very simple - you can push your specialty concerns from soap boxes in Central Park and Jackson Square whenever you like, but you can be 100 times more effective in elective office with a national podium.
Don't do it, Democrats. Don't tear yourselves apart over matters that can be addressed even-handedly if you first lead our Republic out of the morass it now faces.
This may be our last chance.
I know it’s naive to hope that the far-left ideological warriors that populate the comments section of the NYT might actually think about it and change their opinions, but just keep this in mind:
The first scathing assessment of the ideas expressed by Democratic presidential candidates during the debate came in the NYT from Bret Stephens. Common sense analysis, with grim predictions for what the Democrats will achieve by abandoning the ordinary Americans. But it doesn’t matter, Mr. Stephens is the editorialist that the leftists love to hate.
Now Mr. Friedman tells you exactly the same thing. In the country I came from, there’s a saying: if two people tell you you’re drunk, you’d better go get some sleep. A lot of people on the left need to take a rest and think it over.
9
You make sense but Dems won't listen and we will lose.
5
If such a thing existed and it was technologically possible, I would insert a GIF here of an atheist sending up a prayer that the DNC reads this OpEd and listens for once. I think my mantra from now until the elections is going to be "DON'T BLOW IT THIS TIME, GUYS!" (And though I love you in many ways, I'm talking to you, too AOC.)
2
Question - the title says “voters have reason to worry”. If that’s who they vote for why should they worry?
1
At this point I am for the previously unthinkable. A Red America and a Blue America. Break it into parts and let us go our separate ways. I do not wish to participate in an America where Trump is President perhaps for life and the Electoral College foists winners on us who are in fact losers. Break it up.
4
Right on! I wish you could be campaign manager for Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris.
1
Trump's wall never materialized and neither will any Democrat take away any American's overpriced health insurance. Don't let Tom scare you into voting for the devil over campaign aspirations, which get deflated over time. Tom, you ain't helping so stop it.
2
All the dems have to do to win is tell the truth about trumps promises. He promised better and cheaper health care. What a joke.
He implied he would drain the Swamp. The swamp is still infested.
He implied more peace: he spends more and more on the military than in the entire history of USA when we can't even get decent health care. He wants to bomb Iran and take over Venezuela He fights with China and others on tariffs.
He is the same as any dem or other republican. He is such a lier; a racist; a danger t women; a vulgar, ignorant man.
Why would he win?
The dems just have to promise and deliver more stability for the middle class; for everyone. But no one believes them anymore. They all respond only to their donors now and have for decades. It's how the world turns now.
I would say little hope remains.
Read and listen to Fox news to understand why and how the news you believe is true is reported and explained differently. Get on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. and create massive amounts of disinformation. The communists have taught us that it is the American thing to do.
1
This is what I want...........everyone to have access to healthcare, income equality, great schools for all kids, the rich to have to pay their fair share in taxes, and good paying jobs for everyone...............
2
Entrepreneurs have received way too much praise already, most of it from people who want to push inequality even higher. And talking about restricting immigration at a time when immigrant kids are being ripped from their parents' arms to be put in cages makes about as much sense as outlining a more modest Jew-restriction policy in the midst of the Holocaust. We are angry for a reason. We need different results than we've been getting, and we are not going to get them by repeating the same old platitudes.
Splitting the difference between sane and crazy is half-crazy.
Yes, some ideas discussed by Democrates are poison. "Reparations" to alleged black persons including those like Kamala Harris and Obama who have no known ancestral ties to those who endured slavery? Yes to recognizing that some traditonal American solutions like public education disproportionately helps the poor and middle classes (of whatever background) and should allow those who are smart and who study hard to get a good education through college. Yes to means testing in programs, no to ancestor testing. Help those who need it.
3
Part 2: Friedman says about "all the crazy stuff Trump has done & said"......what like? Pulling the US out of the JCPOA, or the Paris Accord? Crazy? Why was Trump able to take the US out of these things, he called do it because originally Obama implemented these by EO. Why would Obama do it by EO & not by way of ratifying the JCPOA & the PA in Congress & thereby ensuring no future POTUS called take America just by signing an EO, instead it would've needed Congresses approval.
Well, Obama could only do the JCPOA & the PA by EO because he knee he had zero chance of passing it in Congress, he knee neither of these international agreements were popular, so he had no choice.
Friedman talks about "the overthrow of all the norms, values, rules & institutions that we cherish". Is he thinking of, for example, Senate confirmation hearings for SC Justices? Is he thinking of seeing LW mobs raging & screaming & spitting into the faces of Senators simply because they don't support what the mobs want them to support?
Is he fearing a time of seeing half the population refuse to respect the democratic result of an election simply b/c their chosen candidate lost? Is he thinking the GOP & Trump might sink so low as to spend 2 yrs attempting to frame an innocent President of a hoax? Maybe he fears a time when Congress cares so little for our Values, norms, rules, that one side will demand the impeachment of an opposition president even BEFORE he/her is inaugurated.
4
Hate to say it, but he will win again. The Dems are simply too dumb - they walked right into the trap with the 'squad'. And thinking that anyone like Sanders can win on a national level is ludicrous.
5
I'll tell you why Trump will win. Because those in power behind him will see to it that he wins. They cheat. They hate. They don't care about the rules. That is the only reason he will win. And all his followers are every bit as corrupt and evil, calling themselves "Conservative" and "Christian" while turning a blind eye to hate speech and child abuse. Sick, sick, sick.
3
I've been asked by fellow Democrats who I support among the multitude who have declared their candidacy. The answer is simple: anyone who can beat Trump. But instead of standing out and distinguishing themselves from the crowd, candidates in the two debates fell into lockstep on polarizing issues. Biden was probably coached into avoiding any controversy as front-runner until the real issues have been better defined. Each of the others lost his or her opportunity to let the voters hear a distinctive voice. That's cautious positioning, not leadership. They all failed the test.
Gee, I'd sure vote for a Krugman-Friedman ticket! Why can't we have candidates who know something and can really think for themselves? Where is the Jefferson or Lincoln -where are the Roosevelts - of our time?
5
Thank you, thank you a thousand times for articulating my opinions and darkest fears. At this point all rational souls who truly care about the the country as we know it should join forces and launch into survival mode. All the real and imagined candidates, the democratic congresspeople, and a plethora of brilliant, "non-politician" minds (including you of course, as well as other NYT columnists), post haste need to hold what my spouse refers to as an emergency "Come to Jesus" meeting. The squad, plus other extremists and newbies need to heed the advice of their "somewhat less-woke elders" and be patient for a few years if we are to have any chance at all of getting this nation back on track. Otherwise we're history - in the very worst sense of the word.
9
totally right. But I have my moments when I want to call the Squad's bluff and give them what they want. They're way younger than I am and will have to spend far more years under a Putin style setup than I will.
4
Obama was elected as a progressive. He wilted and became a moderate, and subsequently his Congresses were all conservative as the progressive base stayed home. Hillary was a moderate from the beginning and lost. We won't beat Trump with another moderate. The progressive message is popular, but we need the right messenger.
9
It's popular where? Swing states? I'd like to see your evidence. When you did your analysis of the electoral college, I hope you got your math right because electoral college is the only thing that matters.
9
@Carolyn The math is that Obama running as a progressive in 2008 won 61 more electoral votes than Trump did, and 134 more electoral votes than Hillary did.
2
The counter to your point would be the Democrats ran moderate in 2016 and lost the Electoral College.
Counter to that though was that the moderate was part of the right wing’s arch-boogeyfamily the Clintons.
Counter to that though is that people aren’t going to abandon Trump for a spineless moderate (especially one older than their ultra-Teflon leader).
Counter to that though...is that no one will really know until November 2020.
1
Create new "Big Projects" like the Marshall Plan, Manhattan Project and putting a man on the moon to try to solve some of our pressing problems like immigration, climate change, health, and wealth inequity. It might seen like more government spending, but it will be great for job creation in step with our changing world and will pay big dividends down the road. A healthy world, US and Latin America will be better for business and trade, just not the businesses that currently profit from our unhealthy state like fossile fuel and the arms industry.
2
@Richard Tandlich Maybe some intelligent candidate will do so in a few days on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.
It's about scarcity vs abundance.
I grew up in Iowa in a Republican household. Back then, R was an aspirational party. The mindset was based on abundance: work hard and your efforts will yield the bounty. Now the mindset is based on scarcity: work hard to stay afloat, while sharing the bounty with those "others?" The current R admin is saying "No, thanks; send those 'others' back."
Now the Ds are aspiring towards abundance. Free health care. Free schools. A welcoming of others. Treating those others with respect. And getting work on your ability to put in the time.
I know which mindset I'm supporting. Abundance is what made this country great. Not scarcity. Not a zero-sum game. We're known for being generous. Abundance. We care about you, too. Abundance.
Other countries aspire to be like the USA, because or our abundance. Throw that mindset away, and we'll will become like so many other despotic countries. The dollar will no longer be the World's currency. English will no longer be the World's common language.
That's the choice: abundance or scarcity. It's not about D or R; either party is capable of that kind of thinking. It's just, for 2020, that the D is the party is promoting that vision.
5
@Iko As in an abundance of healthcare for illegal immigrants? That will surely bring another 4 years of you know who. Democrats need to get their heads screwed on straight by 2020. I doubt it will happen as woketivism is all the rage with a certain sliver of the Democratic party.
3
Finally a blueprint for what we want and need in a candidate. Thank you Tom Friedman! I just hope one of the candidates takes the advice to heart.
6
JFC. It's July 2019. Chill out.
3
Could you please explain why chilling out is the best strategy right now?
I'm a liberal living in rural Trump country. I guarantee that if the Democrats nominate a leftist candidate that wants health care for illegal immigrants they will lose the election-- and lose it by a substantial margin. The average American can barely afford the thousands of dollars a year it costs to provide their families with health insurance, deductables, co-pays and the Democrats want to give this expensive commodity to people who have entered the country illegally? Those writing and expressing 'oh let's give the left a chance, the moderates haven't fared well,' are seriously out of touch with what is going on in this country. Many people are LIKE Trump. They LIKE his prejudice and abrasiveness. The average American likes that he LIES just like they do. Something these folks don't want to accept.
2194
@KF2 I am a Dem living in Trump country too and you are absolutely correct. Trump will win in a landslide . I hope the Democratic party listens to Mr Friedman. After we win , then we can work on more progressive issues .
202
@SusanL. Thank you both for sharing these insights. Whenever I hear support for Warren, Kamala, Sanders, as much as I admire them, I sense that their supporters are living in liberal bubbles and echo chambers. I frankly see none of them winning Obama-Trump voters. And frankly, Obama was an exceptional candidate and thinker to push voters to get past the historic odds of his candidacy. I waited 3+ hours to hear him speak in 08 and sensed the magic of his campaign in the air. None of the above candidates are at the level of Obama. Dems need to break out of the bubble to outbid forward a candidate that can WIN and end this nightmare.
139
@KF2 I, too, am a liberal in a red state, and this comment is spot on. Any candidate who has suggested abolishing private insurance is also doomed. Once you weed out the candidates who support both these issues, you're literally left with a couple of possibilities. Everybody else has already lost the general (without even knowing it).
163
Friedman conflates political leaders with the way our economic system works. A leader can listen and be open to adjust their policies, but nothing much will get done until the wealthy, the corporations, the lobbies, the investment firms and venture capitalists, etc. are required to be fair, to pay their taxes, to not interfere unduly in the political process.
Until the power of those groups is reduced, they will control what is going on. Some of the candidates are broadcasting that fact and saying that we don't simply need some good voting (under Clinton and Obama, two well-intentioned Democrats, the power of those groups were left untouched), we need people to vote and then to follow up with demands that their interests be defended and promoted.
Bernie calls that a revolution. Poor choice of words, perhaps. But he is making a different point than Friedman. He is saying we need MORE than a Democratic majority in Congress and a Democratic president. We certainly need these. But we need the Democrats to go beyond asking for the wealthy to give a little more philanthropy or pay a little more in taxes. Asking them for such things accepts that it is their choice. But it is our choice. Our institutions and regulations need overhaul (not quite a revolution), and Congress has to learn how to be the people's representatives and not fundraising lackeys of the wealthy.
241
@Thomas L. Friedman
you read these - good for you - please consider this:
you're addressing the symptoms but not the cause of these skewered positions.
The reason is to be found in the delegate apportioning system of the D. party. It is strictly quota, strictly identity politics. The bylaws in my state require 50% men, 50% women. It doesn't end there. There are rules to further tilt it for gays, minorities, etc. It has the intended result as far as numbers go.
Demsproudly proclaim they have 100 women in congress, reps about 10. However i live in Western MA and have been a delegate to multiple state caucuses.
What i find is that the supply of 'normal' women falls short of the reserved seats. When I say normal, i mean non (white) man hating.
I approached the ACLU to protest, since the D. party charges dues and is given all sorts of special permits - to put a stop to the quotas. It was like speaking to a pod, in Invasion of the body snatchers'. Many of our elected women officials here really do have it in for men. Most women and men, have conflicted feelings about the other gender - but at the end of the day - say 'viva the difference'.
Quotas are responsible for creating a machine to advance identity politics.. that is where the problem lies. There are not enough normal women with an interest to fill the slots. We need delegates chosen for ideas. All people have things to offer, but for whatever reason white males have led the way to an enlightened country.
12
@Thomas L. Friedman
"I have a lot of respect for Bernie Sanders. I would not vote for him..." Mr Friedman, I have enjoyed listening to you and reading your work, but Please tell me that you are not saying that if the choice is between Trump and Sanders that you would either vote for Trump or abstain from voting all together. Because in that case Trump IS Going to get Re-elected (and the onus for that result will not belong to the progressives).
27
@JustThinkin
All good points, but you're speaking as if we're not in crisis mode, with immediate issues much more dire than corporations not paying their fare share, etc.
Such as lying madman in oval, who's every action is around staying out of jail. We're not going to successfully go from this Trump/GOP Bitter Division Place to Sanders/Warren America successfully in one (this) cycle. Can anyone really see that? We're in crisis mode and these people will do anything they can get away with at any cost to stay in office.This is their live or die election (should have been 16') and "ours" as well.
The only way forward is running someone who can
bring swing voters and moderate republicans on board and win by a non-debatable margin. And I don't think he's in his 70's.
16
The 2020 election will be decided by middle-of-the-road, middle-class swing voters - they are the only ones up for grabs. Energizing the base just isn’t enough for either side.
Those swing voters aren’t dumb - they recognize that the policies progressives promote will disrupt their world: Forcing 160 million families out of their health insurance, forgiving college debts, reparations, the Green New Deal, open borders, free healthcare for folks here illegally, shutting down ICE, etc.
Swing voters are not going to vote themselves into disruption without a convincing benefit. But benefits of progressive policies to most of the middle class are murky at best. Swing voters understand these policies are meant to accrue to various victim classes or to an abstract socialized society, not to them.
Those swing voters, after being told they were deplorable, voted for Trump in 2016. Progressives are giving them plenty of reasons to do it again.
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Please please please. Why are democratic candidates raising their hands like automata when a reporter asks for their pledges for open borders, reparations, social safety net for "undocumented migrants" (aka, those who illegally game the system to live in the US), school busing. Please, we will lose everything, Supreme Court appointments going forward, the environment (on the edge of a cliff as it is), compromises on health care, everything that might make our lives better. It's not a matter of catering to urban intellectuals, it's about winning c. 100,000 voters in middle-of-the-country swing states. Realpolitik - has anyone heard that word?
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Please go give the Dems in Congress, and the candidates, a lecture on this article.
Many of us agree wholeheartedly and are terrified Dems will mess this election up. And please tell that squad to sit down, listen, and learn before they speak.
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Thomas - thank you for a vote for sanity. The Revolution will have to wait. We have to defeat Trump. Candidates concentrating on divisive issues just makes the voters have to choose between two extremes. People really want moderation. Trump will give them the extreme no reason to go to the place where he is king. You can't out shout the Donald or be madder than he is. If you do you are just as crazy as he is. Right now I too fear we are going to have our worst nightmare and see Trump re-elected and the Democrats snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory by catering to the extreme wing of the Democratic party.
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First blue teamer that Endorses the 2nd Amndmnt wins it all. But you won’t see a consultant say that, a pollster say that or a voter say that. But I will. So , I am the messenger, I know what comes next, ( and in Nov ).
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I'm shocked Mr. Friedman that you don't think undocumented immigrants who paid more in taxes last year than Amazon, GM, IBM, and Netflix combined should not receive health insurance just like other contributing members of our economy. These are hard-working people. I'm sure your family came from a foreign land when it was easier to become American citizens. My family came from Eastern Europe to escape pogroms and in two generations they became doctors, professors, small business owners and lawyers. That will be true of these immigrants if we give them a chance.
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Contributing members of our society who are American citizens are not currently automatically getting insurance. We come first.
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Well then, reup with Hillary Clinton. Indeed, test out the definition of insanity.
The Left is playing a long game. It has gotten wise to the "next election cycle" con played by the Democrats. The Left is currently exposing that the conservative Democratic party does not really oppose Trump in practice. Hence it was "green whatever" Pelosi that opened the door to Trump's deliberately racist tirade.
Trump is suggesting to conservatives that tagging the Democrats with the Squad will get him reelected. Friedman, like Pelosi, in practice stands in solidarity with Trump by channelling this fear mongering into the Democratic Party. They both want the Squad "to go back from where they came", differing only in the literal or political figurative sense.
Nevertheless it is highly likely that a safe status quo Democrat - the very definition of a conservative - will be nominated. My bet is either Harris or Biden, with Booker an outside chance. Harris, a more "left opportunist" Obama type Democrat, is the best conservative bet to beat Trump. Biden will be a huge turn-off disaster.
But in any case the Squad will have performed an inestimable service to progressive America by demonstrating the irredeemability of the Democratic Party. The rest is the problem of the conservative - radical right bloc in charge right now. After all it is your system, not ours, that Trump trashes now. The real pain and suffering he inflicts upon our people will not be forgotten.
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Fair enough as far as elections are concerned..... But, the commentator now owes it to his readers to compare the private health care system of the US (which he says just needs tweaking), to the public systems of other nations of similar means, after we win in 2020.
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I have not heard of any Democrats seeking to decriminalize illegal entry into the country. This fallacy runs parallel to Trump's lie that Democrats want open borders.
The quest for universal health coverage is not misguided. It may not complement America's piety for life dictated by profit but it has served well in many advanced countries. If this is a radical call, then it is in reaction to the right's emphasis on profit over the well-being of those who are unfortunate. I agree with Friedman that the answer lies somewhere in between the two radical proposals. But it is not only the left that supposedly has it wrong.
Subsidized health care offered to the poor and vulnerable should not be offered to undocumented migrants. But at the same time it is callous to deny any form of publicly-funded health care to someone who is not a legal resident.
Anyone to the left of Trump is going to be accused by Republicans of being "socialist." Instead of abandoning social and economic justice in fear of the label, Democrats should point out that if they are socialists, then the opposition is fascist and made up of neo-Nazis. Name-calling can be a two-way street.
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This is a nightmare scenario and I too have imagined it. Will he Democrats realize in time to forestall a truly damaging second Trump term that squabbling among themselves and promoting truly crazy ideas that will never ever happen (reparations, getting rid of private insurance) will hand Trump a victory?
This isn’t the time to be idealistic, I’m afraid. We’re in a pickle and the only goal should be removing this deeply troubled man from office.
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To defeat Trump, we should all remember Edmund Burke's famous remarks:
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little."
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Keep validating so-called conserva...I mean moderate positions, Tom. Making the reasonable radical and the cruel and unjust sound rational and normal. The politics of today was not created in a vacuum. The self-described "liberal" pundits and party loyalists have spent the last 40 years appealing to and validating conservative viewpoints and policy. What has that led to? What was gained?
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No, Mr. Friedman, he won’t.
The horrendous mockery of an American president Trump has presented the country with will cause a Democratic landslide in 2020.
Unless he is removed from office before then.
Or the Repubicans come to their senses and nominate a sane candidate.
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Why would a American citizen vote for someone who represents the needs of an illegal immigrant by giving them free health care while they struggle to get care at all in their own country. This is why Trump will win again.The Democrats have gone off the rails. Even my wife who hates Trump thinks he will win again if this is what the Democrats are going to fight for.
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The more I see from our Democratic leadership and certain members of the house I can almost guarantee it.
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I don't understand why so many columnists, like Tom Friedman in this piece, condemn the Democratic candidates in the second televised debate for saying they would provide medical treatment for undocumented workers who are sick. Are we supposed to turn away people in need from the doors of our hospitals? Doesn't such cruelty violate basic American norms? Isn't providing such people with treatment simply the decent, humane thing to do?
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You're a good person with a good heart but our next president will be picked by swing voterin swing states. To them it makes no sense .they vote for Trump
I voted for Obama twice and HRC once and Pelosi, too many time to count.
However, I was not impressed by the tone of the debates and their efforts to buy my vote with a busload of freebies at the expense of the taxpayers.
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Yes, he will be re-elected. Even though wages growth is stagnant, at best, even though the despoliation of the environment will proceed apace and the oceans rise to engulf Mar-a-Largo, even though credible accusations of sexual abuse and corruption scandals tar him and everyone around him, and even without having to start another war, Trump will win in 2020 against all comers, barring a stroke or other health disaster. And he will replace at least two more Supreme Court Justices and pack the federal courts with unqualified or dangerously conservative appointments. Then Pence will run in 2024, and probably win, although like most Vice Presidents who become President most likely only for a single term, but that will be enough to usher in Gilead, as the states will have been enacting anti-women and anti-LGBTI legislation that Trump’s Supremes will either find constitutional or decline to review. America is in pretty bad shape right now, but it’s going to get a lot worse.
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Hooray__ I am for every thing she is for. Concentrate on the issues she listed and stop taking every bait Trump throws out! We the people might win.
I'm already planning on leaving the U.S. for the next four years if President Bone Spurs is re-elected. These last three have already been too painful already and can't stomach the insanity of the campaign season already.
As Paul Krugman mentioned, there is no extreme left. That’s a media trope. Not one of the Democrats is a socialist. They are all squarely in the center of European politics, like Germany’s social democrats. Friedman has long lost his bearings, and he fails, like many of his media colleagues, in identifying just how far right the GOP has pushed the center since Nixon and then Reagan.
The Democratic field has zero radical leftists. None. The policies they propose are accepted norms in Canada and Europe.
The reactionaries on the right have pushed their agenda for 40 years, using the culture wars to distract from their alliance with the ultra rich, unnecessary wars, cruelty, and racism.
Friedman lost his bearings when he supported the war in Iraq. He, like Brooks, Stephens, and Douthat, fail to read and pay attention the right wing propaganda pushing the center so far to the right that widely accepted policies are seen as extreme.
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1. This isn’t Europe. 2. Will you guys please get off the Iraq war? What does that have to do with health care and immigration?
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Friedman is basically right, I think. It has to be about jobs, -better paying jobs, and helping small business, and limiting the power of the ultra wealthy. It cannot be about health care for illegal immigrants, or climate change, which is the losingest issue there ever was, even though it is the most important, or abortion, or cultural issues, or racism, or any of the darlings of the left.
But Mr. Friedman is quite wrong that all the Democrats need is a decent moderate candidate. Presidential elections are never about issues, but about PERSONALITY. And there never has been a bigger personality in the White House. The man who must never be named, is a Superstar. No ordinary Joe can defeat a superstar in a Presidential election. This is because of the way our society has promoted celebrity as the most desirable thing in the world. To be sure, fame has always been big, but there was always an ethic that came either from stoicism or Christianity that it was fleeting and illusory. Those balances have been utterly obliterated since the advent of the Movie Star. Movie stars have brought with them a revaluation of fame that is entirely new in the world. Fame is purely good now, and the person who has it is preeminent. The current President understands this as no one has before him. All he has to do to stay President is to keep in the headlines, good or bad, and the New York Times is his greatest asset in this.
He will be re-elected, by a rather large margin.
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Friedman's analysis here is as astute as was his "earth is flat" and MBS is "the future of Saudia Arabia". In other words, he is writing nonsense. His technique is to extrapolate general principles from what some cab driver tells him. So, a cab driver complains about illegals receiving medical care and straight away we have a Friedmanite column about how misguided the Democrats are in proposing that all residents of the United States be covered by medical insurance.
Well, Mr. Friedman, we already provide that care; we don't let babies die in the street. But, compared to other advanced countries, that do provide universal care, it is done at an enormous cost. The Democrats recognize that we have a system that cost twice as much an any other, and yet, has outcomes that are 30% less favorable to the patients. In other words, the Dems recognize it is much less expensive to give prenatal care than it is to treat a sick child or mother in an emergency room.
In addition, the Dems recognize that the businesses that benefit from illegal labor, such as restaurants and agriculture, are not paying the true cost of that labor. They are not paying the health insurance; the tax payer is.
Finally, Friedman is simply repeating the populist talking points of, "they are taking or jobs- they are taking our health insurance, so vote for us ". Not unlike what Farage/Johnson and the Brexit demagogues did and do in the UK.
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I'm seeing more and more Independents, and quite a few Democrats, throw up their hands in disgust and walk away in response to Pelosi's dithering and hand wringing over commencing impeachment hearings. Not impeachment, just the hearings to investigation the possibility.
One Independent I know put it well, he said there is no way he will again vote for the spineless wimps he helped put in office back in 2018. Other Democrats I know have just given up and expect Trump to remain in office and for the Democratic Party to do nothing.
I don't think these people will vote for Trump, but it does look like they will sit home and not vote at all. And none are impressed by Pelosi's wonderful legislation -- which McConnell will never put to a vote and which Trump will never sign. They see this as a distraction and cover for Pelosi not doing her job.
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So, giving incentives to businesses is the way to go? You are kidding right? Obama won and Trump won because each represented rejection of the status quo. More milquetoast will give us four more years of Trump. Furthermore, Mitch McConnell, Lindsay Graham, and the rest of the cabal who put their power interests over the interests of the country during a time of economic crisis, and who have been acting in kind for ten years, are sure to do it again. Naive!
I am not a big fan of Tom Friedman, but he has eloquently, persuasively and concisely summarized the problems the Democrats have largely brought upon themselves. I recall when Michael Moore published a brief article before the last Presidential election explaining why Trump stood a very good chance of winning - and all the smug Democrats behind Hilary laughed it off. He really saw what was happening.
Tom Friedman, you get it, and I hope the revolutionaries are reading this. Please.
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We have the same problem in the UK at the moment. We have a tory party seeking an anything goes Brexit and moving to the far right under crazy Boris. Then we have a left, under Corbyn embroiled in antisemitic issues and dubious economic ideas. Many of our moderate politicians have lost their voice in this madness. Most voters are just average people wanting to have a good standard of living and not hate everybody. We would so welcome some rational moderates and some constructive diplomacy. Looks like the USA could do with the same.
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Every time I hear we need to "gain the support of... moderate Republicans" this quote from 2016 comes to mind:
“For every blue-collar Democrat we lose in western Pennsylvania, we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs in Philadelphia, and you can repeat that in Ohio and Illinois and Wisconsin.”
It proved wrong in 2016. Why should we believe in now?
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This article should be required reading for every democrat running and anyone of voting age
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Oh, for heaven's sake! We have had continuous electioneering year in year out. Can't we at least wait for fall? November 2019? Honestly, this is sickening, and bears little relationship to useful action.
I've been spending my spare cash on real charity, not on TV ads. I made up my mind for Elizabeth Warren a long time ago, and hope she'll continue to rise. All the rest is noise.
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Pete is the answer.
He recognizes what sent the electorate to Trump in the first place.
He can't be bullied by Trump.
Pete!
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While vigorous debate is the cornerstone of solving any problem we all need to unify in agreement that no one knows what to do. Trump's sadistic illness has dysregulated literally everyone. Many are hypnotized and the rest haven't any marching orders beyond "beat Trump in 2020". If anyone knew what to do about this madman we wouldn't be here in the first place. Stop telling people who don't think exactly like you that they are putting the election at risk. Stop pretending you have it figured out. You don't.
Physicians should be helping us recognize this syndrome and help us figure out how to contain it.
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The donald played his hand very well these last couple of days. There's no way for decent people to beat him.
We are doomed.
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When you get over your "shock" Friedman, ask yourself if you have ever met someone who would give up their government Medicare coverage for the "Your Money or Your life" private policies that keep millions of dollars, each year, flowing out of our pockets and into the insurance honcho CEO's.
These CEO's don't ever want Single payer or Medicare for all.
But then, You knew that already.
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Democrats, and I am one of them, are setting up to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. This should be a no brainer.
Candidates wake up before it's too late!
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One of the patriotic democrats will win and bring in the rest of their fellow candidates as part of the new administration. But am I worried? Yep. I cry for my beloved country.
Where is Anonymous? And why isn't he/she doing anything? Fired? Resigned? Nobody left to save the democracy?
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Thank you. While I was not "shocked" to hear the Sanders-Warren wannabes want to push everyone off health plans and to single-payor plan, I was stunned at the lack of confidence, intelligence, and strategic planning of the candidates. Granted, there were so many, it was like speed dating.
We broke the Republican stronghold in 1992 against many odds by electing an attractive, well-spoken, intelligent & experienced person whose candidacy was one thing - "It's the economy, stupid." For all of Clinton's faults, he and his team ran a darned good campaign.
The economy is doing well - for the top .01%, who have seen stratospheric gains over the last 40 years. The rest of the top 10% kept par with the economy. The remaining 90% saw flat real wages. At middle age, I am making half of what I made when I was 20 years ago despite having graduate degrees and decades of experience. The jobs I'm looking at will bring my real wages to about 75% of what they were back then. Good thing - our kids face college soon, and we can't retire until we're 70 despite saving and living well beneath our means.
There are simple changes to make to the tax code - no wealth tax required. Raise the tax on capital gains and dividends by tax bracket. Eliminate carried interest and immediate expensing of depreciation loopholes. Flip Social Security so the first 30k is exempt, and there is no cap. A billionaire should not be paying a lower effective tax rate than a middle class family - period.
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This plan is excellent, word for word. Find me this candidate please! Asap
All I can say about the current cast of candidates, is I don't see a keeper in the whole basket!
And I to would vote for a turnip over Trump!
The answer is in the center, not pushing the pendulum to the far left.
At this point I'd vote for a rock and even Biden than carry on with the dismal state of affairs in this country.
All Democratic candidates should tell all voters that domestic and foreign policy will not be made by sending out tweets. And they will not carryon Trump's policy of using the internet for that purpose. They should also promise not to use the internet to bully others. Children need to know that bullying in whatever form is hurtful and as president a president needs to set an example by not using the internet to bully others.
Tell the public you the candidate knows it needs a rest from the constant stream tweets. And, you will respect their time and feelings by not sent out streams of tweets.
Just to know that I can go a day without hearing from the fools on the hill would be a welcome respite
The more left the Democratic Party moves, the more certain it will be
Democratic slogan: Socialist democrats brought you social security and medicare, republicans are cutting the programs.
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